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Productivity & Business · Education & Productivity

SiYuan

Free, open-source, local-first note-taking and knowledge app with block-level links, flashcards and databases, plus paid sync options.

Our take: SiYuan is one of the most complete free PKM apps: block references, databases, flashcards and a graph come built in, and everything runs offline.

Best forLocal-first block notes
ReviewedPricing: Freemium
7.7 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try SiYuanFree; PRO Features $96 one-time (offer $64)

SiYuan is a free, open-source note-taking and knowledge app that stores your notes locally and links them at the block level. Local use costs nothing; you pay only for sync, with PRO Features at $96 one-time (currently offered at $64) or a lifetime cloud seat at $296 (offered at $148 for limited seats). Refunds are not available.

The bottom line

Excellent free local-first notes; read the sync pricing carefully before paying.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isA free, open-source, local-first knowledge base where every block can be linked, embedded and reviewed as a flashcard.
Our takeSiYuan is one of the most complete free PKM apps: block references, databases, flashcards and a graph come built in, and everything runs offline.
Paying is only about sync, and you can avoid it with your own WebDAV or S3 through PRO Features. The trade-offs are the JSON storage format, an 8GB cap on official sync, and pricing that currently shows offers and limited lifetime seats with no refunds. Use the built-in trial before buying.
Why we rate itDeep, free feature set with local storage, open code and encrypted sync.
The catchJSON storage instead of plain Markdown, 8GB official sync cap, offer-led pricing and no refunds.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Personal knowledge bases
  • Students using spaced repetition
  • Privacy-minded and self-hosting users
Not good for
  • Teams needing real-time collaboration
  • Users who want plain Markdown files on disk
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Minutes to install; block references take a few days to learn.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Needing more than 8GB of official sync, or multi-device sync without your own storage.
  3. Walled garden
    Low to medium: open source with Markdown, PDF, Word and HTML export, but native files are JSON.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try SiYuan

SiYuan plans and prices

PlanRegular priceCurrent offerWhat it adds
Free$0n/aAll basic functions, local storage, no account needed
PRO Features$96 one-time$64 one-timeSync and backup through your own S3 or WebDAV storage (Nutstore not supported)
Subscription (8GB cloud)$296 lifetime seat$148 for limited seats8GB official cloud sync and backup, cloud asset hosting, Cloud Inbox, plus PRO Features

From SiYuan's English pricing page and its price-adjustment post, checked 4 October 2026. The post says the $148 price covers the next 98 of 226 lifetime seats. The pricing FAQ still mentions an annual subscription, and the Chinese page lists an annual plan, so confirm the plan type at checkout. Refunds are not available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SiYuan free?

Yes. SiYuan is free for local use with no account, and its source code is open under AGPL-3.0. You pay only for sync: PRO Features for your own S3 or WebDAV storage, or a subscription with 8GB of official cloud storage (checked 4 October 2026).

How much does SiYuan cost?

On the English pricing page, PRO Features is a one-time $96, currently shown as an offer at $64. The subscription with 8GB of official cloud is listed as a lifetime seat at $296, offered at $148 for a limited number of seats. Refunds are not available, so enable the trial in Settings > Account first (checked 4 October 2026).

Which is better, Obsidian or SiYuan?

It depends on how you work. Obsidian keeps notes as Markdown files and is free, with Sync from $4 per user a month billed annually. SiYuan stores notes as JSON blocks, which enables block references, databases and flashcards, and sells sync as a one-time or lifetime purchase.

Is SiYuan open source and private?

Yes. The code is AGPL-3.0 on GitHub, data is stored on your device, and sync is end-to-end encrypted.

Can I self-host SiYuan?

Yes. SiYuan publishes a Docker image so you can run it on a server and access it in a browser, protected by an authorization code. It also runs on Kubernetes, Unraid and TrueNAS.

Does SiYuan have AI?

Yes. It can connect to OpenAI to continue writing, translate, summarize, brainstorm and fix grammar.

SiYuan alternatives

Other note-taking and knowledge tools from our reviews:

Showing 1–3 of 3
Sources checked October 4, 2026: SiYuan pricing, SiYuan lifetime subscription price adjustment, SiYuan homepage, SiYuan on GitHub.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

Tags

#SiYuan#NoteTaking#PKM#OpenSource

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