SiYuan vs RemNote
SiYuan is a free, open-source, block-based knowledge base with Notion-style databases and local storage; RemNote is a note-taking app with spaced-repetition flashcards built into the writing itself. Here’s how they compare on pricing, platforms, linking, search, capture and collaboration — and how to decide between them.
What is SiYuan?
SiYuan packs a remarkable amount into an open-source (AGPL) package: block-level bidirectional links, WYSIWYG Markdown, Notion-like database and attribute views, spaced-repetition flashcards, a graph, PDF annotation and a plugin marketplace — all stored locally, with the option to self-host the whole thing in Docker. It’s free for personal and commercial use.
Sync is where money changes hands, modestly: a one-time PRO license (~$64) unlocks third-party S3/WebDAV sync, or you can subscribe to the official encrypted cloud service. The developer is China-based with a very active GitHub, and the app is fully usable in English. It’s single-player — no real-time collaboration — but as a personal all-in-one it rivals tools costing $100+/year.
What is RemNote?
RemNote fuses notes and studying: write an outline, mark a line as a question-answer pair, and it becomes a flashcard scheduled by spaced repetition — remembering is a property of your notes, not a separate app. PDF annotation, image occlusion, and an exam scheduler round out a system clearly aimed at students, med students especially, though knowledge workers use it for durable learning too.
The free plan is generous — unlimited notes, flashcards and synced devices — with Pro at $8/month ($96/year) adding unlimited PDFs and tables, and a “Pro with AI” tier at $18/month generating cards, quizzes and summaries from PDFs and recorded lectures. It runs everywhere: web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with offline support.
SiYuan vs RemNote at a glance
| SiYuan | RemNote | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; PRO one-time ~$64; optional paid official cloud sync | Pro $8/mo ($96/yr); Pro with AI $18/mo ($216/yr) |
| Free plan | Yes — full core app, commercial use included | Yes — unlimited notes, flashcards and devices |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Docker (self-host) | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Storage model | Local-first; encrypted sync via official cloud or your own S3/WebDAV | Cloud with offline support |
| Editing model | Block-based WYSIWYG Markdown with database views | Outliner with inline flashcards |
| Backlinks & wiki links | Yes — block-level bidirectional links | Yes — references and backlinks |
| Graph view | Yes — graph view | Yes — basic graph |
| Search | Full-text, including SQL-style queries | Full-text |
| Web capture | Browser clipping extension | Web clipper extension |
| Email-in capture | No | No |
| RSS / feeds | No | No |
| Team collaboration | No | Limited — shared docs, published decks |
| Publishing & sharing | Export or self-hosted sharing | Published flashcard decks and articles |
| AI assistant access | Configurable OpenAI-compatible integration | AI flashcards/quizzes/summaries (paid tier) |
| Offline access | Yes — fully offline | Yes |
| Open source | Yes — AGPL-3.0 | No |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes — encrypted sync | No |
| Data export | Markdown, PDF, and more | Markdown, PDF |
Pricing and features as of mid-2026 — check each product’s site for current details.
Where SiYuan shines
- An unusually complete free feature set: block refs, databases, flashcards, PDF annotation, graph — no plugins required.
- Open source (AGPL) with local-first storage and Docker self-hosting.
- Sync your own way — one-time license for S3/WebDAV, or the official encrypted cloud.
- Very active development with a plugin bazaar on top.
Worth knowing: No collaboration and no first-party hosted sharing beyond exports and self-hosting. The interface is denser and less polished than Western commercial rivals, and documentation can be rough in translation. Capture from the web, email or feeds isn’t a focus.
Where RemNote shines
- The tightest notes-to-flashcards loop anywhere — cards are created inline as you write, not maintained separately.
- Serious study tooling: PDF annotation, image occlusion, exam scheduling.
- A genuinely usable free plan with unlimited notes and cards.
- AI tier turns PDFs and lectures into flashcards and quizzes automatically.
Worth knowing: The study focus shapes everything; as a pure PKM tool it’s busier and less elegant than dedicated rivals. Collaboration is limited to shared documents and published decks. Cloud-first and proprietary, with no end-to-end encryption.
Which should you choose?
Choose SiYuan if:
- You want maximum capability for minimum (or zero) money, as open source.
- Self-hosting on your own infrastructure appeals to you.
- You want Notion-style databases and flashcards in a local-first app.
Choose RemNote if:
- Retention is the goal — you’re studying for exams or deliberately memorizing a field.
- You annotate PDFs and lecture material heavily.
- You want notes and flashcards to be the same document.
A third option: Dexi
If what you actually want is one searchable place for notes, bookmarks, newsletters and RSS — with tags, @mentions and [[wiki links]] that organize themselves as you write, semantic search that finds ideas even when the words don’t match, and an MCP server so Claude and other AI assistants can work with your notes directly — take a look at Dexi. It’s free for up to 1,000 notes, with no app to install.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between SiYuan and RemNote?
SiYuan is a free, open-source, block-based knowledge base with Notion-style databases and local storage, while RemNote is a note-taking app with spaced-repetition flashcards built into the writing itself. In practice, SiYuan is best for self-hosters and open-source enthusiasts who want Notion-grade blocks and databases on their own disk; RemNote is best for students and lifelong learners who want what they write to become what they remember.
Which is cheaper, SiYuan or RemNote?
SiYuan: Free; PRO one-time ~$64; optional paid official cloud sync (free plan: yes — full core app, commercial use included). RemNote: Pro $8/mo ($96/yr); Pro with AI $18/mo ($216/yr) (free plan: yes — unlimited notes, flashcards and devices). Prices as of mid-2026 — check each product's site for current rates.
Is SiYuan or RemNote better for teams?
SiYuan — team collaboration: no. RemNote — team collaboration: limited — shared docs, published decks. If neither fits, Dexi's Team plan ($10/member/month) offers per-note sharing with team-wide search.
Can I switch between SiYuan and RemNote?
Both tools let you get your data out — SiYuan exports via markdown, pdf, and more, and RemNote via markdown, pdf. Markdown is the common ground for most migrations, though block references, properties and other tool-specific structure typically need manual cleanup after import.
Collect, connect and search everything you read — free, no credit card required.
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