Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Evernote · 🧠 notes & knowledge
Evernote vs SiYuan
Capture, search, tasks and databases; free sync means bringing your own server. Here is how SiYuan ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Evernote ($14.99/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Evernote vs SiYuan Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Evernote (Paid) | SiYuan (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $14.99 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $180 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $180) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $899 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $899) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,799 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,799) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopmobileself-hostedextensionone-click install |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 46k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Evernote to SiYuan
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
SiYuan is stronger at structured knowledge than frictionless capture, and its mobile scanning, web clipping, OCR, and turnkey sync are weaker than Evernote's.
How to deploy SiYuan
Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting
What it takes to run
The desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
Where your data lives
A workspace stores block documents as structured .sy JSON files plus assets on disk; SQLite files hold indexes and auxiliary state; documents can export to Markdown, HTML, PDF, and Word
Why fork SiYuan instead of vibe-coding a Evernote clone?
A personal notes app with OCR/search/import is reachable, but the hard parts are migration, sync reliability, clipper UX, OCR quality, and years of user data.
Evernote vs SiYuan FAQ
Is SiYuan a good free alternative to Evernote?+
Yes. SiYuan is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for Evernote. Capture, search, tasks and databases; free sync means bringing your own server.
What is the catch when switching from Evernote to SiYuan?+
SiYuan is stronger at structured knowledge than frictionless capture, and its mobile scanning, web clipping, OCR, and turnkey sync are weaker than Evernote's.
How much do you save switching from Evernote to SiYuan?+
Evernote costs $14.99/mo ($180/yr) per seat, whereas SiYuan is $0/mo. Switching saves $180/yr for a solo user, $899/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,799/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host SiYuan instead of Evernote?+
Install: Desktop/mobile package, or Docker image for browser-based self-hosting. Setup: The desktop app installs cleanly, but free cross-device sync is not a turnkey feature: official cloud sync is a paid membership feature and Docker hosting does not transparently become desktop/mobile sync
