SiYuan

SiYuan is a self-hosted personal knowledge management system that takes a more granular approach than most of its competitors: you don't just link pages, you link individual blocks. This allows you to weave a fine web of paragraphs, notes, and references.

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You’re in the driver’s seat. SiYuan runs entirely offline, can be set up on your own server via Docker, and syncs between devices with end-to-end encryption. Syncing costs extra, though: using your own storage requires the one-time Pro license, and the official cloud requires a subscription. It’s built for anyone who wants to avoid forced cloud storage and third-party data access.

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That’s also the catch: SiYuan is more technical than Logseq or Anytype. Setting it up requires a willingness to tinker, and the interface feels less polished than commercial tools. If you’re looking for a plug-and-play experience, this isn't the right fit.

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The perfect choice for technical power users who want total control over their structure and data. If you’re looking for an easy start without the need for a server, Notion or Anytype are the more obvious options.