SiYuan
SiYuan is an open-source, local-first, privacy-first personal knowledge-management and note-taking application. It uses content blocks as the basic unit for organizing, editing, referencing, and publishing knowledge, while supporting Markdown, bidirectional links, databases, and multi-device synchronization.
At a Glance
- Individual knowledge workers
- Students and researchers
- Writers and developers
- Privacy-conscious users
- +2 more
AI Tools by SiYuan
(1)
SiYuan
Open Source Knowledge Management App
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Latest News
SiYuan v3.8.7 beta series listed, including v3.8.7-beta.3.
SiYuan 3.8.6 released; release notes highlight expanded mind maps and database calendars, mobile and window-management improvements, workspace storage statistics, and new AI/MCP/plugin capabilities.
SiYuan 3.7.0 release listed in the App Store version history.
SiYuan 3.6.0 release listed in the App Store version history.
Products & Services
Open-source local-first personal knowledge-management software for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with block editing, Markdown/WYSIWYG, references, backlinks, databases, search, and publishing.
Official Android, iPhone/iPad, and HarmonyOS NEXT apps with mobile editing and synchronization capabilities.
Self-hosted server deployment, including an official Docker image, browser access, kernel API, command-line interface, and publishing service.
Browser-based clipping and web capture integrated with a SiYuan workspace.
Market Position
SiYuan positions itself as an open-source, privacy-first and local-first alternative in the personal knowledge-management market, differentiated by block-level granularity, strong references/backlinks, database features, self-hosting, and an offline-capable architecture. Its comparison set includes Obsidian, Notion, Logseq, Joplin, and other Markdown or block-based note systems.
Leadership
Founders
D (88250)
The B3log timeline identifies D (88250) as a founder of B3log and describes D as the back-end contributor; the founder's own blog describes co-running the venture with V and developing open-source products including SiYuan.
V (Vanessa)
The B3log timeline identifies V (Vanessa) as the front-end contributor and co-founder of B3log; her public blog covers JavaScript and front-end development.
Founding Story
SiYuan grew out of B3log, an open-source community founded by D and V. The product was launched as a new knowledge-management application intended to help people organize thoughts and long-form knowledge at block-level granularity, with local-first storage and privacy as core principles.
Business Model
Revenue Model
A freemium model: core/local-storage functions are free, while one-time PRO upgrades and annual subscriptions fund paid capabilities and official cloud services. Users may also use their own third-party S3 or WebDAV storage.
Pricing Tiers
Basic functions and local storage.
Basic functions plus third-party S3 and WebDAV synchronization and backup integrations; storage service is not included.
PRO features plus official cloud asset hosting, Cloud Inbox, 8 GB official cloud storage, and official data synchronization and backup.
Target Markets
- Individual knowledge workers
- Students and researchers
- Writers and developers
- Privacy-conscious users
- Self-hosting and open-source communities
- Users needing cross-device notes, structured databases, or local/offline workflows
- Personal knowledge management and digital-garden building
- Long-form writing, research, study, and daily notes
- Linked-note and reference management
- Structured information management with databases and queries
- Spaced-repetition learning and PDF annotation
- Privacy-sensitive offline-first note taking