SiYuan replaces 7 paid apps
One open-source tool, 7 subscriptions it can stand in for. Each pairing below is curated and verified by hand, with the honest catch spelled out. No votes, no pay-to-list.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour machine or their cloud
installDesktop or mobile package, or Docker
enginesOpenAI API or OpenAI-compatible endpoints, including locally hosted backends configured by base URL
dataWorkspace blocks are JSON .sy files with assets on disk; the project warns that ordinary sync-drive folders can corrupt the workspace
setupThe app installs cleanly, but built-in cloud sync is paid and generic sync-folder services are explicitly unsafe
facts verified 2026-08-10
Structured blocks, attributes and database views, with less magic and more switches.
the catchSiYuan can structure blocks and show database views, but it lacks Tana's fast command-driven supertags and fluid live-search-node workflow.
the verdict →all Tana alternatives →
Block references, backlinks and outlines without making the outliner your entire personality.
the catchSiYuan supports block references and backlinks but its outliner, graph queries, and collaborative editing feel less fluid and immediate than Roam's.
the verdict →all Roam Research alternatives →
Capture, search, tasks and databases; free sync means bringing your own server.
the catchSiYuan is stronger at structured knowledge than frictionless capture, and its mobile scanning, web clipping, OCR, and turnkey sync are weaker than Evernote's.
the verdict →all Evernote alternatives →
Blocks, databases and relations with local storage and considerably more exposed wiring.
the catchIt is much weaker for frictionless team collaboration, public sharing and polished relational databases than Notion.
the verdict →all Notion alternatives →
Typed blocks, relations and database views for people who enjoy seeing the machinery.
the catchSiYuan exposes blocks, attributes, and database mechanics more directly, so creating and browsing coherent object types is less elegant than in Capacities.
the verdict →all Capacities alternatives →
A local-first writing library with blocks, links, huge documents, and real exports; less monastic than Ulysses, much harder to lose.
the verdict →
A block database wearing a note app's clothes, with the fiddly bits exposed.
the catchSiYuan is a powerful local block database but lacks Anytype's encrypted peer-to-peer spaces, object-type UX, and relationship-centric collections.
the verdict →all Anytype alternatives →last updated 2026-08-10 · up to $1,128/yr replaced · no votes, no pay-to-list
