Craft vs SiYuan
Detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs
S
SiYuan
Privacy-first local knowledge management with block-level references
4.5
Editorial RatingQuick Comparison
Rating
4.6
vs4.5
Starting Price
Free
vsFree
Pricing Model
freemium
vsfreemium
Feature
Craft
SiYuan
Rich Documents
Real-Time Collaboration
Backlinks
Daily Notes
Offline Access
Export Options
Block-level references
Bidirectional linking
Spaced repetition
E2E encrypted sync
Math and diagrams
Mobile apps
Craft Pros
- Stunningly beautiful native app design
- Fast and responsive even with large documents
- Excellent offline support on all Apple devices
- Great for creating shareable documents
- Inline backlinks and page references
- Powerful daily notes feature
Craft Cons
- Best experience is on Apple platforms only
- Web and Windows apps are less polished
- Block limit on free plan
- Smaller plugin and integration ecosystem
- No API for third-party automation
- Less flexible than Notion for databases
SiYuan Pros
- Block-level referencing more granular than any competitor
- Spaced repetition built in for active learning
- End-to-end encrypted sync option for cross-device use
- Rich content support including math diagrams and code
- Desktop and mobile apps for all platforms
- Completely free for local use
SiYuan Cons
- Steeper learning curve than simpler note apps
- Block reference syntax takes time to master
- Cloud sync requires paid subscription
- Smaller community than Obsidian or Notion
- Interface can feel overwhelming for simple notes
- English documentation sometimes lags Chinese original