# SiYuan

> Open-source, local-first notes built on linked content blocks

SiYuan is an open-source note-taking app that stores data on the user's own device and keeps working without a network connection. Notes are made of content blocks that can reference each other, with backlinks, a relationship graph, databases, flashcards and Markdown-style editing. Most features are free; syncing between devices is a paid feature, either through the vendor's cloud or your own storage.

- **Category:** Note-Taking Apps
- **Made by:** Yunnan Liandi Technology Co., Ltd.
- **Website:** https://b3log.org/siyuan/en/
- **Runs on:** Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Web, Browser extension
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

SiYuan has a free plan. Paid plans start at $64 one-time payment (PRO Features).

- **Pricing model:** Free plan
- **Free plan:** Free: basic functions with local storage, including for commercial use. Data sync and backup between devices are paid features.
- **Free trial:** A trial subscription can be enabled in the desktop app under Settings > Account; its length is not stated.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free | $0 | Basic functions with local storage, described by the vendor as completely free. |
| PRO Features | $64 one-time payment | Adds data sync and backup through your own S3 or WebDAV storage; no storage is included. Shown as reduced from $96. |
| Subscription | $148 one-time payment for a lifetime subscription | PRO Features plus 8 GB of official cloud storage, official sync and backup, a cloud inbox and asset hosting. Shown as reduced from $296 for limited seats. |

Read from https://b3log.org/siyuan/en/pricing.html on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with SiYuan before buying.

## Ways to pay less

- **Lifetime subscription at $148 for limited seats** (Lifetime license): A vendor post says the $148 lifetime price covers a limited number of seats, then reverts to $296, and that the lifetime option closes once all seats are sold. Source: https://liuyun.io/article/1784295501588

## App Store prices by country

"PRO Features", as each country's App Store showed it on Oct 9, 2026. These are the app's prices, not the website's.

| Country | Price | In US dollars |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | $79.99 | |
| United Kingdom | £79.99 | about $105.75 (32% more) |
| Germany | 89,99 € | about $100.84 (26% more) |
| Canada | $99.99 | about $70.29 (12% less) |
| Australia | $129.99 | about $90.75 (13% more) |
| India | ₹ 7,900 | about $81.67 (about the same) |
| Brazil | R$ 499,90 | about $99.88 (25% more) |
| Mexico | $1,799.00 | about $98.85 (24% more) |
| Turkey | ₺3.999,99 | about $81.35 (about the same) |
| Indonesia | Rp 1,499juta | about $83.83 (about the same) |
| Philippines | ₱ 4,990.00 | about $79.43 (about the same) |
| South Africa | R1,499.99 | about $90.73 (13% more) |

## Key features

- **Block-based editor:** Everything is a content block. The WYSIWYG editor offers more than 20 block types and 10 inline types, and any block can be zoomed into on its own.
- **Block references and backlinks:** Blocks link in both directions, a backlink panel surfaces mentions that can be turned into links, and global and block-level graphs show how notes connect.
- **Databases:** Database views support relations that connect two databases, rollups across them and templates.
- **Flashcards:** Built-in spaced repetition schedules card reviews with the FSRS algorithm.
- **End-to-end encrypted sync:** Paid options sync devices with end-to-end encryption, using either the official 8 GB cloud or S3 or WebDAV storage that you provide.
- **Self-hosted server:** A Docker image runs SiYuan on your own server for use from a browser, with a lock-screen password controlling access.

## Good for

- People who want notes stored on their own device and usable offline
- Note-takers who link ideas at the block level and explore them in a graph
- Learners who want flashcards alongside their notes

## Worth knowing

- Syncing devices costs money: $64 once to use your own S3 or WebDAV storage, or the subscription for the official cloud.
- The official cloud storage is limited to 8 GB per user.
- Refunds are not available after subscribing; the vendor suggests trying the trial subscription in the desktop app first.
- Browser access comes from a self-hosted Docker server or a desktop app on the same local network.

## Works with

OpenAI

**Tags:** Notes, Open source, Local-first, End-to-end encrypted, Self-hostable, Linked notes, Databases

## Alternatives

- [Obsidian](https://toolgpa.com/tools/obsidian): Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/obsidian-vs-siyuan)
- [Logseq](https://toolgpa.com/tools/logseq): Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/logseq-vs-siyuan)
- [Trilium Notes](https://toolgpa.com/tools/trilium-notes): Free, open-source hierarchical notes for a personal knowledge base. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/siyuan-vs-trilium-notes)
- [Joplin](https://toolgpa.com/tools/joplin): Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/joplin-vs-siyuan)
- [Anytype](https://toolgpa.com/tools/anytype): Local-first, end-to-end encrypted workspace for notes and data. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/anytype-vs-siyuan)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://b3log.org/siyuan/en/pricing.html
- https://b3log.org/siyuan/en/
- https://b3log.org/siyuan/en/download.html
- https://liuyun.io/article/1784295501588
- https://liuyun.io/subscribe/siyuan
- https://liuyun.io/one-time-pay/siyuan

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/siyuan
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).