Syncthing
Syncthing 2.1.7 hits a fourth release candidate as fixes move from protocol to sync logic.
Comparison · Collab
Joplin vs SiYuan
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Joplin and SiYuan — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Shared themes:local-first
Joplin vs SiYuan: at a glance
What is Joplin?
Joplin 3.7 ships AI chat, semantic search, and MCP integration — all off by default, all controllable by the user.
Joplin 3.7 is the product's first real AI release: an in-app chat panel for querying the currently open note, semantic (meaning-based) search across notebooks, and an MCP server that lets external AI assistants connect to Joplin's note graph. The implementation is privacy-first by design — AI is disabled by default, local models (Ollama, LM Studio) are explicitly supported, and cloud AI services only receive the specific note content relevant to a request rather than the full notebook. A companion documentation post published September 14 lays out the privacy model explicitly.
What is SiYuan?
SiYuan's second 3.8.9 alpha in a day adds TIFF previews and depth limits for automation.
SiYuan ran 3.8.8 through six alphas and four betas in about four days, rolling up Gemini and DeepSeek agent support and database automation. The 3.8.9 line opened with pinned agent sessions and mind-map node copy-paste; alpha.2 adds TIFF previews, sync checkout progress and cancellation, mobile bottom backlinks, a subdocument-depth limit for database automation scopes and consolidated workspace AI instructions.
Joplin vs SiYuan: editorial side-by-side
Joplin
6.3COLLAB
Joplin 3.7 ships AI chat, semantic search, and MCP integration — all off by default, all controllable by the user.
◆ Current state
Joplin 3.7 is the product's first real AI release: an in-app chat panel for querying the currently open note, semantic (meaning-based) search across notebooks, and an MCP server that lets external AI assistants connect to Joplin's note graph. The implementation is privacy-first by design — AI is disabled by default, local models (Ollama, LM Studio) are explicitly supported, and cloud AI services only receive the specific note content relevant to a request rather than the full notebook. A companion documentation post published September 14 lays out the privacy model explicitly.
◆ Where it's heading
Joplin is repositioning from a sync-agnostic note-taking app into an AI-native knowledge base, differentiated by opt-in, local-first controls. The HMD Terra M preload partnership and the warrant canary point to a deliberate push toward privacy-conscious enterprise and professional users who distrust cloud-first tools. The MCP integration is particularly strategic: it makes Joplin's note graph accessible to external orchestration pipelines without locking into any particular AI provider.
◆ Prediction
The next major release will likely expand AI chat to multi-note context — currently limited to the open note — and add more configurable MCP tools. The HTR (handwritten text recognition) project from the 2024 French government partnership is also likely to appear in a near-term release.
SiYuan
5.0COLLAB
SiYuan's second 3.8.9 alpha in a day adds TIFF previews and depth limits for automation.
◆ Current state
SiYuan ran 3.8.8 through six alphas and four betas in about four days, rolling up Gemini and DeepSeek agent support and database automation. The 3.8.9 line opened with pinned agent sessions and mind-map node copy-paste; alpha.2 adds TIFF previews, sync checkout progress and cancellation, mobile bottom backlinks, a subdocument-depth limit for database automation scopes and consolidated workspace AI instructions.
◆ Where it's heading
The release rhythm is a fast alpha-to-beta loop with a new minor every few days, mixing agent features with editor and sync polish. Database automation is gaining scoping controls release by release, and the agent is becoming a persistent workspace object rather than a side panel.
◆ Prediction
Expect more 3.8.9 alphas, then betas, within days. The entries still show no 3.8.8 stable, so it's unclear whether the betas promote or roll straight into the next line.
Alternatives to Joplin 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 Joplin or SiYuan.
Teable
Teable tries a chat-first workspace: the grid becomes one output of an AI conversation.
Elgg
Elgg ships paired 7.1.2 and 6.3.9 patches: both branches stay in maintenance mode.
Hive
Hive gives clients a passwordless portal for every proof waiting on them, across companies.
GitHub
GitHub previews a package firewall that blocks malicious dependencies at install time.
Wiki.js
Wiki.js 3.0 beta adds live notes that can be published straight to pages.
See all Joplin alternatives → · See all SiYuan alternatives →
Recent activity from Joplin and SiYuan
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 4d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.9 alpha.2 adds TIFF previews and automation depth limits
- 4d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.9 alpha.1 adds pinned agent sessions and mind-map copy
- 5d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.8 beta.4 rebuild with unchanged release notes
- 6d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.8 beta.3 rebuild with unchanged release notes
- 6d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.8 beta.2 fixes iOS double-tap selection
- 6d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.8 beta 1 rolls up Gemini, DeepSeek and database automation
- 1mo agoJoplinYour notes and AI: privacy first
- 1mo agoJoplinWhat's new in Joplin 3.7 ⚡
- 5mo agoJoplinWhat's new in Joplin 3.6
- 8mo agoJoplinIntroducing our Warrant Canary
- 8mo agoJoplinJoplin will come preloaded on the HMD Terra M
- 9mo agoJoplinWhat's new in Joplin 3.5
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Joplin and SiYuan?
Both compete on the same themes — local-first — within Collab. Joplin is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Joplin better than SiYuan?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Joplin is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 6.3 vs 5.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Collab products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Joplin?
Top Joplin alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Joplin alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/joplin 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.