Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Notion · 🧠 notes & knowledge
Notion vs SiYuan
Blocks, databases and relations with local storage and considerably more exposed wiring. Here is how SiYuan ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Notion ($12/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Notion vs SiYuan Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Notion (Paid) | SiYuan (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $12 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $144 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $144) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $720 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $720) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,440 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,440) |
| 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 Notion to SiYuan
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It is much weaker for frictionless team collaboration, public sharing and polished relational databases than Notion.
How to deploy SiYuan
Desktop or mobile package, or Docker
What it takes to run
The app installs cleanly, but built-in cloud sync is paid and generic sync-folder services are explicitly unsafe
Where your data lives
Workspace blocks are JSON .sy files with assets on disk; the project warns that ordinary sync-drive folders can corrupt the workspace
Why fork SiYuan instead of vibe-coding a Notion clone?
A solo notes-and-database workspace is buildable, but Notion's block editor, permissions, sync, templates, AI, integrations, and collaboration take real product work.
Notion vs SiYuan FAQ
Is SiYuan a good free alternative to Notion?+
Yes. SiYuan is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for Notion. Blocks, databases and relations with local storage and considerably more exposed wiring.
What is the catch when switching from Notion to SiYuan?+
It is much weaker for frictionless team collaboration, public sharing and polished relational databases than Notion.
How much do you save switching from Notion to SiYuan?+
Notion costs $12/mo ($144/yr) per seat, whereas SiYuan is $0/mo. Switching saves $144/yr for a solo user, $720/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,440/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host SiYuan instead of Notion?+
Install: Desktop or mobile package, or Docker. Setup: The app installs cleanly, but built-in cloud sync is paid and generic sync-folder services are explicitly unsafe
