Obsidian vs Siyuan
Choose SiYuan if open-source licensing, self-hosting, and block-level knowledge management are priorities; choose Obsidian if you depend on its documented shared-vault or hosted publishing workflows. Both support local knowledge bases, bidirectional links, graphs, and encrypted synchronization, but SiYuan’s server deployment has browser-only and import/export limitations that can complicate migration.
Decision guide
The practical reasons to choose either option, based on documented capabilities.
Choose Siyuan if
- Individuals requiring an AGPL-3.0, self-hostable knowledge workspace
- Users organizing knowledge with block-level references, WYSIWYG Markdown, outlines, databases, and spaced repetition
- Administrators able to operate Docker, persistent storage, access controls, and reverse-proxy configuration independently
Stay with Obsidian if
- You rely on Obsidian Publish for hosted wikis, documentation, or digital gardens; equivalent SiYuan publishing coverage is not documented
- Your team requires documented shared-vault invitations, real-time updates, or detailed permission behavior
- You need desktop or mobile clients to connect directly to a self-hosted server; SiYuan’s Docker deployment is documented as browser-only access through that deployment mode disclosed in the supplied material on Docker's
Deployment and operations
SiYuan is AGPL-3.0 licensed and self-hostable. It provides desktop and mobile packages plus Docker deployment, but no Kubernetes support is documented. The Docker image is b3log/siyuan, uses port 6806, requires a persistent workspace mount, and supports configurable PUID/PGID and an access authorization code. Operators must manage volume correctness, permissions, upgrades, reverse proxying, and backups; the README recommends app-market installation for one-click client upgrades. Some features, S
Migration considerations
SiYuan can export standard Markdown with assets, PDF, Word, and HTML, but the supplied material documents no direct Obsidian-vault importer. Its Docker deployment specifically does not support Markdown import, so vault migration may require a desktop import path or manual reconstruction and validation of links, embeds, metadata, and plugins before cutover.
Feature fit
What Siyuan covers
- Local device storage
- Offline note access
- Bidirectional note linking
- Knowledge relationship graphs
- Encrypted multi-device sync
- Desktop and mobile applications
- Markdown-oriented editing
- Extensibility through plugins or marketplaces
What’s different or missing
- Hosted web publishing not documented
- Obsidian-vault import not documented
- Shared-vault invitation workflow not documented
- Detailed collaboration permissions not documented
- Docker-to-client connections unsupported
- Kubernetes deployment not documented
Project snapshot
- GitHub stars
- 45,825
- Contributors
- 118
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last commit
- Aug 12, 2026
- Latest release
- Aug 15, 2026
Categories: Content Management Systems, AI Assistants, Business Intelligence, Data Integration, Document Collaboration, Knowledge Management, Note Taking, File Sync & Storage, Calendars & Scheduling, Task Management, Search Engines, Project Management, Digital Whiteboards
Sources and editorial review13 linked sources
Public documentation supports this comparison. Automation assists collection and classification; editorial standards and corrections remain the responsibility of Kris.
An open-source, privacy-first, self-hosted knowledge workspace where humans and AI agents work together
repository description · github.comSiYuan is a privacy-first personal knowledge management system, supporting fine-grained block-level reference and Markdown WYSIWYG.
readme · github.comBlock-level reference and two-way links
readme · github.comExport: Standard Markdown with assets; PDF, Word and HTML
readme · github.comAndroid/iOS/HarmonyOS App
readme · github.comThe easiest way to serve SiYuan on a server is to deploy it through Docker.
readme · github.comSiYuan is a privacy-first personal knowledge management system, supporting fine-grained block-level reference and Markdown WYSIWYG.
verdict · github.com### Explore the link graph. A bird's-eye view of the knowledge structure distribution through a global relationship graph, and a focus on knowledge link paths through a block-level focused relationship graph.
shared feature · b3log.org### End-to-end encrypted data sync End-to-end encryption technology ensures privacy and security, and incremental sync technology saves traffic and improves data sync efficiency.
shared feature · b3log.orgThe easiest way to serve SiYuan on a server is to deploy it through Docker.
deployment · github.comIt is recommended to give priority to installing through the application market on desktop and mobile, so that you can upgrade the version with one click in the future.
deployment · github.com- Export - Block ref and embed - Standard Markdown with assets - PDF, Word and HTML
migration · github.com- Does not support desktop and mobile application connections, only supports use on browsers - Export to PDF, HTML and Word formats is not supported - Import Markdown file is not supported
missing feature · github.com
