SilverBullet vs Logseq vs SiYuan: Self-Hosted Knowledge Management Platforms 2026

Managing personal knowledge and notes has become essential for developers, researchers, and knowledge workers. While cloud-based solutions like Notion and Obsidian Sync dominate the market, self-hosted alternatives give you full control over your data, privacy, and customization. This guide compares three powerful self-hosted knowledge management platforms: SilverBullet, Logseq, and SiYuan.

At a Glance: Comparison Table

SilverBullet: The Programmable Markdown Platform

SilverBullet describes itself as a “Programmable, Private, Browser-based, Open Source, Personal Knowledge Management Platform.” It runs entirely in your browser with a Go backend and stores everything as plain Markdown files — making your data future-proof and portable.

Key Features

• Space Lua scripting: Extend functionality with custom Lua scripts that run inside your knowledge space
• Objects and Queries: Create structured data within Markdown and query it dynamically
• Bi-directional linking: Automatic backlink tracking between pages
• Task management: Built-in task tracking with queries and dashboards
• Live Preview: Edit Markdown with instant rendered preview
• Outlining support: Fold/unfold sections, promote/demote headings
• CodeMirror 6 editor: Professional-grade code editing experience
• Plug system: Extensible architecture for custom commands, templates, and widgets

Self-Hosting SilverBullet

SilverBullet is designed for self-hosting from the ground up. Run it with a single Docker command:

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docker run -v ./my-space:/space -p 3000:3000 ghcr.io/silverbulletmd/silverbullet

Or with Docker Compose for persistent deployment:

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version: "3.8"
services:
  silverbullet:
    image: ghcr.io/silverbulletmd/silverbullet:latest
    container_name: silverbullet
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    volumes:
      - ./silverbullet-space:/space

The /space volume mount is where all your Markdown pages live. You can back them up with any standard file backup tool — they’re just regular .md files.

Who Should Use SilverBullet

SilverBullet is ideal if you:

• Want plain Markdown files as your source of truth
• Enjoy extending tools with scripting (Lua)
• Need a browser-based interface (no desktop app required)
• Value data portability and vendor independence

Logseq: The Privacy-First Outliner

Logseq is a privacy-first, open-source platform for knowledge management and collaboration. It pioneered the outliner-based note-taking approach, where every piece of content is a bullet point that can be nested, linked, and queried.

Key Features

• Outliner-first design: Every note is a bullet point; nesting creates natural hierarchy
• Daily journal: Automatic daily note creation for quick capture
• Bi-directional linking: Backlinks and reference graph built in
• Block references: Reference any block from any page with ((block-id)) syntax
• Built-in graph view: Visualize connections between your notes
• PDF annotation: Highlight and annotate PDFs directly within the app
• Flashcard system: Built-in spaced repetition for learning
• Plugin ecosystem: Extensive marketplace with community plugins
• Whiteboard: Visual brainstorming canvas
• DB version (beta): SQLite-based storage with real-time collaboration support

Self-Hosting Logseq

Logseq’s desktop app stores notes as local Markdown/Org-mode files. For self-hosted access, you can serve the files through a web interface using Docker:

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docker run -d \
  --name logseq \
  -p 12315:12315 \
  -v ./logseq-data:/data \
  logseq/logseq:latest

The DB version introduces RTC (Real-Time Collaboration) for syncing graphs between multiple devices and collaborative editing. Automated backups are built into the DB version to prevent data loss.

For file-based graphs, simply store your Logseq graph folder on a self-hosted file server (Nextcloud, Syncthing) and access it from any device.

Who Should Use Logseq

Logseq is ideal if you:

• Think in outlines and bullet points
• Want a daily journal workflow
• Need robust backlinking and block references
• Prefer a desktop-first experience with optional web access
• Want real-time collaboration (DB version)

SiYuan: The Block-Based WYSIWYG Knowledge Manager

SiYuan is a privacy-first, self-hosted personal knowledge management system written in TypeScript and Go. It uses a block-based editing model with WYSIWYG rendering, making it feel like a local Notion alternative.

Key Features

• Block-level editing: Every paragraph, list item, code block, and heading is an independent block
• Fine-grained block reference: Link to any specific block with ((block-id)) syntax
• WYSIWYG editing: What you see is what you get — no Markdown syntax needed while typing
• Content block embedding: Embed any block from any page into another page
• SQL query support: Query your notes with SQL for advanced data retrieval
• Markdown import/export: Full compatibility with standard Markdown
• Docker self-hosting: Official Docker image (b3log/siyuan) for server deployment
• Template system: Create reusable page and block templates
• Asset management: Built-in file attachment handling
• Multi-workspace support: Manage separate knowledge bases independently

Self-Hosting SiYuan

SiYuan provides an official Docker image that’s straightforward to deploy:

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version: "3.8"
services:
  siyuan:
    image: b3log/siyuan:latest
    container_name: siyuan
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "6806:6806"
    volumes:
      - ./siyuan-data:/siyuan/workspace
    command: --workspace=/siyuan/workspace --accessAuthCode=your-auth-code

The --accessAuthCode parameter sets an authentication code for web access. SiYuan stores data in a workspace directory with JSON-based block storage and supports Markdown export for portability.

Who Should Use SiYuan

SiYuan is ideal if you:

• Prefer WYSIWYG editing over Markdown syntax
• Want Notion-like block-based organization
• Need fine-grained content referencing and embedding
• Want a polished, modern UI out of the box
• Need SQL query capabilities for advanced note retrieval

Technical Comparison Deep Dive

Data Storage Philosophy

If your priority is data sovereignty and portability, SilverBullet’s pure Markdown approach wins. Your notes are just files — readable by any editor, searchable with grep, and versionable with Git.

Extensibility

SilverBullet’s Space Lua lets you write custom scripts that run inside your knowledge space — generating dynamic content, creating custom commands, and building widgets. Logseq’s plugin ecosystem is the most mature, with hundreds of community plugins covering everything from theme customization to Kanban boards. SiYuan offers a widget marketplace with growing community contributions.

Collaboration

Logseq’s DB version introduces RTC (Real-Time Collaboration) for multi-user editing. SiYuan supports multi-workspace management with optional cloud sync. SilverBullet focuses on single-user knowledge management with file-based sharing via Git or Syncthing.

Why Self-Host Your Knowledge Base?

Owning your knowledge data matters more than ever. Cloud-based note-taking platforms can change pricing, shut down services, or alter their privacy policies without notice. Self-hosting eliminates these risks.

Data ownership: Your notes live on your hardware. No vendor can access, analyze, or sell your content. With SilverBullet’s plain Markdown approach, your data is readable even without the application.

No subscription fees: All three platforms are free and open-source. No monthly payments, no feature gating, no usage limits.

Offline access: Self-hosted tools work on your local network without internet connectivity. Your knowledge base is available even when external services go down.

Customization: Open-source platforms let you modify behavior, add plugins, and integrate with your existing self-hosted infrastructure. Connect your knowledge base to your self-hosted wiki, RSS reader, or documentation platform.

For those interested in other note-taking approaches, our Joplin vs Trilium vs AFFiNE comparison covers a different set of tools worth exploring.

FAQ

Which is better: SilverBullet, Logseq, or SiYuan?

It depends on your workflow. SilverBullet excels for users who want plain Markdown files with programmable extensions. Logseq is best for outliner-style thinkers who want a daily journal and robust backlinking. SiYuan suits users who prefer WYSIWYG block-based editing similar to Notion.

Can I use these tools offline?

Yes. All three platforms support offline usage. SilverBullet runs in the browser but caches your space locally. Logseq is primarily a desktop app with full offline support. SiYuan works offline as a desktop app and offers offline web access when self-hosted on a local server.

Do these tools support Markdown import/export?

SilverBullet stores everything as plain Markdown — no import/export needed. Logseq uses Markdown with optional EDN metadata and supports full Markdown export. SiYuan stores data in JSON internally but supports complete Markdown import and export.

Is self-hosting these tools difficult?

All three provide Docker images for straightforward deployment. SilverBullet requires a single docker run command. SiYuan and Logseq need Docker Compose for persistent storage configuration. If you’ve deployed any Docker container before, you can self-host any of these in under 10 minutes.

Can I sync my notes across devices?

SilverBullet: Use Syncthing, Git, or any file sync tool (your notes are plain files). Logseq: Store your graph folder on a cloud drive or use the DB version’s RTC sync. SiYuan: Supports optional cloud sync or manual file sync of the workspace directory.

Are these platforms free?

Yes, all three are fully open-source and free to use. SilverBullet is MIT-licensed. Logseq offers AGPL-3.0 and MIT dual licensing. SiYuan is AGPL-3.0 licensed. No paid tiers or feature restrictions.

Which tool has the best mobile experience?

Logseq has dedicated mobile apps (iOS and Android) with the new DB version’s mobile app in alpha. SiYuan offers mobile apps with full workspace access. SilverBullet is browser-based and works on mobile browsers, though it doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app.