Our verdict: SiYuan is a capable free alternative to Obsidian and Logseq when you want to link and embed individual blocks rather than whole pages. All local features are free. Syncing between devices is the catch: it requires a one-time PRO purchase for your own S3 or WebDAV storage, or a subscription for the official cloud.
About SiYuan
SiYuan is developed by Yunnan Liandi Technology and published under the AGPL v3. Every paragraph, heading or list item is a block with its own ID, so you can reference, embed and query single blocks. The editor is WYSIWYG but uses Markdown syntax, and notes are stored locally in a workspace folder.
The free version covers all basic functions with local storage. According to the official pricing page, PRO features with third-party S3 and WebDAV sync cost $64 once, and a plan with 8 GB of official cloud storage, cloud inbox and official sync costs $148. A trial can be enabled in the desktop settings.
What it does well
- Block references. Link to or embed any single block, with backlinks showing where it is used.
- Markdown WYSIWYG. Type Markdown and see formatting immediately, with tables, math and diagrams.
- Databases. Attribute views turn blocks into tables, boards and calendars.
- PDF annotation. Highlight PDFs and link annotations into your notes.
- Flashcards. Built-in spaced repetition turns blocks into review cards.
Who it is for
Good fit
Researchers and heavy note-takers who want block-level links and queries on one PC.
Look elsewhere
People who need free sync between PC and phone.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Open source, all local features free
- Powerful block references and queries
- Built-in PDF annotation and flashcards
Cons
- Sync between devices requires a paid PRO purchase or subscription
- Notes are stored in SiYuan's own JSON format, not plain Markdown files
- Many features make the interface busy
How to install SiYuan
The direct link downloads the 64-bit Windows installer from the official GitHub release. On first launch choose a workspace folder that is not inside a cloud-sync folder such as OneDrive or Dropbox; SiYuan warns that syncing its folder externally can corrupt data.
Questions about SiYuan
Is SiYuan free?
Yes for local use: all basic functions are free. Sync and backup to S3 or WebDAV cost $64 once, and official cloud sync is part of a $148 plan.
Does SiYuan store notes as Markdown?
No. Notes are saved as .sy JSON files in the workspace, but you can export them to Markdown at any time.
Can I use SiYuan offline?
Yes. SiYuan is local-first and works entirely offline on one computer.
