SiYuan vs Notion: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between SiYuan and Notion comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Notion wins this matchup. Granola ranks #1 on our Note-Taking list. Granola is the highest-listed Note-Taking tool with a free plan. Pick SiYuan if you need a fully free option.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
SiYuan
Privacy-first personal knowledge management system with Markdown, block references, and bi-directional links.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Notion requires payment)
- • You want strong emphasis on user privacy
- • You want ability to work completely offline
Notion
All-in-one workspace combining docs, wikis, databases, and project boards
Best for you if:
- • You want replaces multiple tools (docs, wikis, project management, databases) in one platform
- • You want highly flexible block-based system lets teams build custom workflows without code
| At a Glance | SiYuan | Notion |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Note-Taking | Note-Taking |
Rating | - | 3.5/5Trustpilot 2.5 · TrustRadius 4.4 · PeerSpot 4.1 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Notion AI is no longer available as a standalone add-on, it is bundled into Business and Enterprise only. |
Choose SiYuan or Notion?
Choose SiYuan if
Privacy-first personal knowledge management system with Markdown, block references, and bi-directional links.
- You want a fully free tool (Notion requires payment)
- You want strong emphasis on user privacy
- You want ability to work completely offline
Choose Notion if
All-in-one workspace combining docs, wikis, databases, and project boards
- You want replaces multiple tools (docs, wikis, project management, databases) in one platform
- You want highly flexible block-based system lets teams build custom workflows without code
| Feature | SiYuan | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★3.5/5 407 reviews |
| Categories | Note-TakingProductivity | Note-TakingProductivity |
In-Depth Analysis
SiYuan
Privacy-first personal knowledge management system with Markdown, block references, and bi-directional links.
SiYuan's pricing is exceptionally generous, offering a fully-featured 'Free' tier that includes advanced functionalities like AI integration, databases, and bi-directional links.
Strengths
- +Strong emphasis on user privacy
- +Ability to work completely offline
- +Secure data synchronization with end-to-end encryption
- +Flexible knowledge organization with blocks and bi-directional links
- +Free to download and use
Weaknesses
- -No specific cons mentioned in the provided text.
Key features
Notion
All-in-one workspace combining docs, wikis, databases, and project boards
Notion is the Swiss army knife of productivity, docs, wikis, databases, project management, and now AI in one tool.
Watch out
Notion AI is no longer available as a standalone add-on, it is bundled into Business and Enterprise only.
Strengths
- +Replaces multiple tools (docs, wikis, project management, databases) in one platform
- +Highly flexible block-based system lets teams build custom workflows without code
- +Deep AI integration, agents, search, meeting notes, and writing assistance
- +Generous free tier with unlimited pages and blocks for individual users
- +Massive template gallery and active community of 1.4M+ members
Weaknesses
- -Steep learning curve, flexibility can overwhelm new users and slow initial adoption
- -Performance degrades on large workspaces with thousands of nested pages
- -Offline mode limited to recently viewed and favorited pages only
- -AI features require separate paid add-on or higher-tier plan
- -No native Gantt charts or advanced resource management for complex project portfolios
Key features
Pricing: SiYuan vs Notion
| Plan | SiYuan | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | $0 Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $10 Plus |
| Tier 3 | N/A | $18 Business |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on SiYuan pricing and Notion pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
SiYuan is free. Notion is freemium.
Go with: SiYuan
Want the highest-rated option?
Notion is rated 3.5/5. SiYuan has no ratings yet.
Go with: Notion
Value user reviews?
SiYuan: no ratings yet. Notion: 407 reviews (3.5/5).
Go with: Notion
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
SiYuan is free. Notion is freemium. Go with SiYuan if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are note-taking tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Notion is rated 3.5/5; SiYuan has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Notion
- Higher rating: 5.0/5 vs 0.0
- More user reviews (1)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
SiYuan
- Completely free
The Bottom Line
Notion wins this matchup. Granola ranks #1 on our Note-Taking list. Granola is the highest-listed Note-Taking tool with a free plan. That said, SiYuan is free, hard to beat on price.
What Users Say
Notion Reviews
Database notes is super and ease my task to understand the workflow
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SiYuan or Notion better?
Notion is rated 5.0/5 in our evaluation. SiYuan is free and Notion is freemium.
What are SiYuan and Notion used for?
SiYuan: Privacy-first personal knowledge management system with Markdown, block references, and bi-directional links.. Notion: All-in-one workspace combining docs, wikis, databases, and project boards.
What does SiYuan cost vs Notion?
SiYuan is completely free. Notion is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.