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Comparison · Collab
Capacities vs SiYuan
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Capacities and SiYuan — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Shared themes:note-taking
Capacities vs SiYuan: at a glance
What is Capacities?
Capacities is becoming an AI-connected knowledge hub with a real developer API.
Capacities, a note-and-object-based personal knowledge tool, is shipping fast — roughly biweekly releases — and pushing two frontiers at once: opening the app to outside systems and deepening its own AI. It now has AI Chat Connectors to ChatGPT, Claude, and Cursor, an on-device Search 3.0, image analysis, recurring tasks, and a choice of AI model provider.
What is SiYuan?
SiYuan rides its 3.7 overhaul with rapid alpha polish on mobile and cross-platform
SiYuan is an open-source, local-first knowledge base. Its 3.7 line was a throughout renewal — a redesigned UI, a kernel plugin system, and a CLI — and the feed since has been a fast cadence of alpha releases (3.7.1, 3.7.2) grinding on mobile editing and cross-platform quirks across Android, HarmonyOS, iOS, and the Microsoft Store build.
Capacities vs SiYuan: editorial side-by-side
Capacities
6.3COLLAB
Capacities is becoming an AI-connected knowledge hub with a real developer API.
◆ Current state
Capacities, a note-and-object-based personal knowledge tool, is shipping fast — roughly biweekly releases — and pushing two frontiers at once: opening the app to outside systems and deepening its own AI. It now has AI Chat Connectors to ChatGPT, Claude, and Cursor, an on-device Search 3.0, image analysis, recurring tasks, and a choice of AI model provider.
◆ Where it's heading
The arc is Capacities moving from a closed personal tool toward a platform: API 2.0 gives developers programmatic access, while the AI Chat Connectors let external assistants read and increasingly write into a user's space. Its AI work emphasizes user control — local-first search, choose-your-model — rather than a single hosted assistant. Cadence is high and consistent.
◆ Prediction
With the API opened and connectors moving from read to write, the likely next step is a richer integration surface — third-party tools and agents building on the API — plus more of what connected AI apps can create inside a space.
SiYuan
6.3COLLAB
SiYuan rides its 3.7 overhaul with rapid alpha polish on mobile and cross-platform
◆ Current state
SiYuan is an open-source, local-first knowledge base. Its 3.7 line was a throughout renewal — a redesigned UI, a kernel plugin system, and a CLI — and the feed since has been a fast cadence of alpha releases (3.7.1, 3.7.2) grinding on mobile editing and cross-platform quirks across Android, HarmonyOS, iOS, and the Microsoft Store build.
◆ Where it's heading
The work is consolidating the 3.7 overhaul along three lines: extensibility (kernel plugins), cross-platform parity (HarmonyOS now treated as a first-class target alongside Android and iOS), and mobile editing polish. The 'step toward intelligence' language hints at AI features, but the concrete shipping is platform breadth and extensibility.
◆ Prediction
Expect 3.7.2 to stabilize out of alpha with continued mobile and HarmonyOS fixes; the kernel plugin system points toward a growing third-party plugin ecosystem as the next surface.
Alternatives to Capacities and SiYuan
Other Collab products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Capacities or SiYuan.
Double
Double is compounding weekly on Ask Double, its AI accounting agent
Geekbot
Geekbot ships a CLI and MCP server, taking async standups beyond chat.
Powell Software
One real release in a marketing-heavy feed: mobile-first, more AI, better analytics.
Happeo
Happeo's feed is a tightly themed intranet buyer-education campaign, not a changelog.
Whimsical
Whimsical ships its own AI agent, capping an 18-month turn to agent-native diagramming.
See all Capacities alternatives → · See all SiYuan alternatives →
Recent activity from Capacities and SiYuan
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 2d agoCapacitiesCapacities API 2.0, Weblink Analysis, and Presentation Mode ⚡
- 2d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.7.2-alpha.2: mobile outline drag-and-drop and keyboard fixes
- 3d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.7.2-alpha.1: mobile keyboard and rendering fixes
- 6d agoSiYuanSiYuan: notification switch and mobile table refinements
- 8d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.7.1-alpha.2: table scroll and mobile sidebar fixes
- 8d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.7.1-alpha.1: mobile sidebar and Markdown import fixes
- 10d agoSiYuanShorthands on mobile, Kernel plugin system, CLI and New UI ⚡
- 16d agoCapacitiesAI Chat Connectors 2.0 + Many improvements
- 1mo agoCapacitiesBulk Import for Everyone, Image Analysis for Pro, and Continuous Improvements
- 2mo agoCapacitiesRecurring Tasks and Choose Your Capacities AI Model Provider
- 2mo agoCapacitiesRelated Content, Deadlines, and Search 3.0
- 2mo agoCapacitiesAI Chat Connectors and Early Access to Bulk Import! ⚡
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Capacities and SiYuan?
Both compete on the same themes — note-taking — within Collab. Capacities and SiYuan are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Capacities better than SiYuan?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Capacities and SiYuan are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 6.3 vs 6.3, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Collab products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Capacities?
Top Capacities alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Capacities alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/capacities for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to SiYuan?
Top SiYuan alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "SiYuan alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/siyuan for the full list with editorial commentary on each.