Alternatives to SiYuan

A block-based notes workspace with Markdown that renders as you type, and an option to self-host it. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as SiYuan.

  • Logseq

    An outliner that stores notes as plain Markdown files, built around a daily journal and linked blocks.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Logseq offers block-level linking in an open source outliner that stores notes as plain Markdown files, but it has no self-hosted browser server.

  • Obsidian

    A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Obsidian keeps notes as plain Markdown files with links and plugins, free for all use, but it is not open source and cannot be self-hosted.

  • TriliumNext Notes

    A hierarchical note app where one note can live in several places at once, with a server you can host.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxWebSelf-hosted

    TriliumNext Notes is free, open source and self-hostable with a browser interface and note cloning, but has no official mobile app.

  • Anytype

    An encrypted, offline-first workspace for notes, tasks and databases that syncs peer to peer.

    FreemiumWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    Anytype offers custom object types and database views with encrypted peer-to-peer sync, but is source-available, still beta and has no self-hosted web option.

  • Notion

    All-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, wikis, and task boards.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSWeb

    Notion provides databases, wikis and real-time collaboration as a hosted freemium service, without self-hosting, a Linux app or open source code.

  • AFFiNE Community

    Combine notes, tables and a drawing canvas in a local-first workspace.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    AFFiNE Community is an MIT-licensed local-first workspace combining notes, tables and a canvas, with a self-hostable edition but no mobile apps listed.

  • AppFlowy

    Organize documents and projects in an open-source workspace.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    AppFlowy is a free AGPL-3.0 workspace for documents and projects with desktop and mobile clients and self-hosting options.

  • RemNote

    Note-taking app that pairs outlining with built-in spaced-repetition flashcards.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSWeb

    RemNote pairs outlining with built-in spaced-repetition flashcards on Windows, macOS and web, but it is not open source and paid plans gate AI features.

Also worth comparing

These listings name SiYuan as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Capacities

    Object-based note app that organizes ideas as typed, tagged objects.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    SiYuan is open source with block references, custom attributes and SQL queries, plus self-hosting, though official sync is a subscription.

  • CherryTree

    A hierarchical notebook with rich text and syntax highlighting, storing everything in one file or a folder you control.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux

    SiYuan offers block-based notes with maths and diagrams on desktop, mobile and self-hosted servers, though notes stay in its own store and official sync is paid.

  • Daino Notes

    A free, local-first desktop note-taking app with a fast block editor and Markdown support.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    SiYuan is an AGPL-licensed block-based workspace with Markdown rendered while typing, SQL queries and self-hosting, but notes live in its own store and official sync is a subscription.

  • flatnotes

    A self-hosted note-taking web app that stores every note as a Markdown file in one folder.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    SiYuan is an AGPL-licensed block-based workspace that can be self-hosted with Docker and has desktop and mobile apps, but stores notes in its own store rather than files.

  • Joplin

    An open source note and to-do app that syncs end-to-end encrypted through storage you already have.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOS

    SiYuan is open source with block references, SQL queries and self-hosting, but notes live in its own store and official sync is a subscription.

  • MindForger

    Organize Markdown notes in a personal knowledge workspace.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    SiYuan offers block references, two-way links and SQL queries inside notes with mobile apps and self-hosting, but keeps notes in its own store rather than plain files.

  • Org-roam

    An Emacs package for linked, plain-text personal knowledge management built on Org mode files.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    SiYuan offers two-way links and block references in a cross-platform app with self-hosting, but notes live in its own store rather than plain text files.

  • Roam Research

    A networked note-taking outliner for connecting related ideas into a graph of linked notes.

    PaidProprietaryWeb

    SiYuan provides block references and two-way links in open source desktop and mobile apps with a self-hosting option, under AGPL-3.0.

  • SilverBullet

    Keep linked Markdown notes in a self-hosted browser workspace.

    FreeOpen sourceSelf-hostedWeb

    SiYuan can be self-hosted with Docker and also has desktop and mobile apps, with SQL queries in notes, but keeps notes in its own store.

  • TiddlyWiki

    A non-linear personal notebook that runs as a single self-contained HTML file in a browser.

    FreeOpen sourceWeb

    SiYuan offers block references, two-way links and SQL queries with desktop, mobile and self-hosted options, though notes live in the app's own store.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.