Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Capacities · 🧠 notes & knowledge
Capacities vs SiYuan
Typed blocks, relations and database views for people who enjoy seeing the machinery. Here is how SiYuan ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Capacities ($11.99/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Capacities vs SiYuan Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Capacities (Paid) | SiYuan (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $11.99 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $144 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $144) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $719 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $719) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,439 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,439) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopmobileself-hostedextensionone-click install |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 46k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Capacities to SiYuan
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
SiYuan exposes blocks, attributes, and database mechanics more directly, so creating and browsing coherent object types is less elegant than in Capacities.
How to deploy SiYuan
Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting
What it takes to run
The desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
Where your data lives
A workspace stores block documents as structured .sy JSON files plus assets on disk; SQLite files hold indexes and auxiliary state; documents can export to Markdown, HTML, PDF, and Word
Why fork SiYuan instead of vibe-coding a Capacities clone?
The core loop is small enough for a capable coding agent to produce a useful local version in one sitting. For Capacities, organize linked notes as typed objects such as people, books, meetings, and ideas. The hard boundary is object-model polish, mobile capture, sync, calendar integration, and ai features, plus sync, collaboration, and capture polish.
Capacities vs SiYuan FAQ
Is SiYuan a good free alternative to Capacities?+
Yes. SiYuan is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for Capacities. Typed blocks, relations and database views for people who enjoy seeing the machinery.
What is the catch when switching from Capacities to SiYuan?+
SiYuan exposes blocks, attributes, and database mechanics more directly, so creating and browsing coherent object types is less elegant than in Capacities.
How much do you save switching from Capacities to SiYuan?+
Capacities costs $11.99/mo ($144/yr) per seat, whereas SiYuan is $0/mo. Switching saves $144/yr for a solo user, $719/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,439/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host SiYuan instead of Capacities?+
Install: Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting. Setup: The desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
