SiYuan

A privacy-first personal knowledge management software, written in typescript and golang.

GitHub stars
46,739
License
AGPL-3.0
Latest release
v3.8.7-beta.3
12 October 2026
Last commit
4 October 2026
Runs on
Docker, Go

Commits per month, last 12 months

8,708 commits

Replaces

Paid products SiYuan can stand in for.

How to self-host SiYuan

SiYuan runs on Docker and Go. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

  1. Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
  2. Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
  3. Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
  4. Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

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Guides that cover it

Questions

Is SiYuan free?

Yes. SiYuan is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host SiYuan?

Yes. SiYuan runs on Docker and Go. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

What does SiYuan replace?

People use SiYuan instead of Roam Research, Microsoft OneNote, Notion or Evernote.

Is SiYuan still maintained?

The last change to SiYuan's code was on 4 October 2026, with 8708 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

Knowledge Management Tools

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.