SiYuan

Privacy-first, self-hostable knowledge workspace with block-level references

What SiYuan does

  • Privacy-first, self-hostable knowledge workspace with block-level references
  • Built-in AI assistant using your OpenAI-compatible API
  • Free and open source, developed in China with English UI
  • Desktop, mobile and Docker

SiYuan — straight answers

What is SiYuan?

SiYuan is listed under AI Note-Taking & Docs, in the Productivity & Workflow category on Flocci AI Tools. Privacy-first, self-hostable knowledge workspace with block-level references. It is free, with no paid plan attached, and it lives at b3log.org.

Is SiYuan free?

SiYuan is listed as fully free — there is no paid tier attached to it in the catalog. That makes it one of the 397 entries on Flocci AI Tools with no upgrade path built in.

Can I use SiYuan in a browser, or is there an app?

SiYuan needs to be installed or self-hosted — it doesn't run in a browser tab. It is available on Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and self-hosting. Developed by China-based b3log; global downloads available

What can SiYuan do?

SiYuan does 4 things the catalog singles out: Privacy-first, self-hostable knowledge workspace with block-level references; built-in ai assistant using your openai-compatible api; free and open source, developed in china with english ui; desktop, mobile and docker.

What is the best free alternative to SiYuan?

AFFiNE is the closest free alternative: it sits in the same AI Note-Taking & Docs sub-category and is free. Blinko, Karakeep and Google AI Edge Eloquent also start free. The full list is on the alternatives page.

See the full list →

SiYuan alternatives

Compare all alternatives →

Notion AI

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  • AI across docs, wikis, databases and projects
  • Cross-document Q&A and writing
  • Connectors to Slack, Drive and more
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Mem

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  • Self-organizing, AI-first notes
  • Auto-tagging and smart search
  • Chat with your knowledge base
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Coda AI

AI Note-Taking & Docs
freemium
  • Docs that combine text, tables and apps
  • AI to summarize, draft and automate
  • Coda Brain across your workspace
  • Free plan available

Obsidian

AI Note-Taking & Docs
freemium
  • Local-first markdown knowledge base
  • Rich AI plugin ecosystem
  • Graph view and backlinks
  • Free for personal use

Craft

AI Note-Taking & Docs
freemium
  • Beautiful native-feel docs with whiteboards, tasks, calendar in one app
  • AI assistant with Core/Fast/Max model tiers
  • Deep integrations with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor

Capacities

AI Note-Taking & Docs
freemium
  • Object-based (not page-based) note model with typed content
  • Core product free forever per vendor policy
  • AI assistant, smart queries, calendar integration on Pro

Head-to-head comparisons