← Back to home
Comparison · Collab

SiYuan vs Syncthing

A side-by-side editorial comparison of SiYuan and Syncthing — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

SiYuan vs Syncthing: at a glance

FeatureSiYuanSyncthing
SectorCollabCollab
Velocity score5.05.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesnote-taking, knowledge base, mind maps, databasesfile-sync, peer-to-peer, sqlite, protocol-hardening
Last editorial update13h ago23d ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is SiYuan?

SiYuan 3.8.11 alphas add freeform mind maps and plugin snapshots right after 3.8.10.

SiYuan pushed 3.8.10 through betas and release candidates between November 7 and 9, carrying workspace AI memory, database sub-items and a built-in Markdown editor. The 3.8.11 alphas followed within days: freeform mind map relationships with per-node connector styles, browsing and restoring plugin snapshots, excluding assets from cleanup, a built-in date picker and rich text in database primary keys. Alpha 4 adds search and replace in the standalone Markdown editor.

Read the full SiYuan trajectory →

What is Syncthing?

Syncthing 2.1.7 hits a fourth release candidate as fixes move from protocol to sync logic.

Syncthing's 2.1 line added device and folder groups, HTTP CONNECT proxies, optional block indexing and configurable GUI sessions. Every tracked entry since then is a patch release candidate. 2.1.6 took four RCs, and 2.1.7 is now on rc.4, which adds sync-model fixes for metadata shortcuts, parent ownership and receive-only folders on top of rc.3's protocol validation.

Read the full Syncthing trajectory →

SiYuan vs Syncthing: editorial side-by-side

S
SiYuan
COLLAB
5.0

SiYuan 3.8.11 alphas add freeform mind maps and plugin snapshots right after 3.8.10.

◆ Current state

SiYuan pushed 3.8.10 through betas and release candidates between November 7 and 9, carrying workspace AI memory, database sub-items and a built-in Markdown editor. The 3.8.11 alphas followed within days: freeform mind map relationships with per-node connector styles, browsing and restoring plugin snapshots, excluding assets from cleanup, a built-in date picker and rich text in database primary keys. Alpha 4 adds search and replace in the standalone Markdown editor.

◆ Where it's heading

SiYuan works in fast public cycles, with the next version's alphas starting as soon as the last one stabilises. 3.8.11 is about polish and editing depth: mind maps, databases and the new Markdown editor all get more control.

◆ Prediction

Expect more 3.8.11 alphas, then betas and release candidates with the same list, following the 3.8.10 pattern.

S
Syncthing
COLLAB
5.0

Syncthing 2.1.7 hits a fourth release candidate as fixes move from protocol to sync logic.

◆ Current state

Syncthing's 2.1 line added device and folder groups, HTTP CONNECT proxies, optional block indexing and configurable GUI sessions. Every tracked entry since then is a patch release candidate. 2.1.6 took four RCs, and 2.1.7 is now on rc.4, which adds sync-model fixes for metadata shortcuts, parent ownership and receive-only folders on top of rc.3's protocol validation.

◆ Where it's heading

The project is stabilising the SQLite backend that came with 2.x and tightening the network protocol, and rc.4 extends that to correctness fixes in the sync model itself. Releases go through several RCs before going stable, roughly every two to three weeks.

◆ Prediction

Expect 2.1.7 stable after rc.4, followed by more 2.1.x patches on SQLite and sync correctness. The entries don't show what 2.2 will bring.

Alternatives to SiYuan and Syncthing

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 SiYuan or Syncthing.

See all SiYuan alternatives → · See all Syncthing alternatives →

Recent activity from SiYuan and Syncthing

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 18h agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.11 alpha 4 adds search and replace to Markdown editor
  2. 1d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.11 alpha: freeform mind maps, plugin snapshots
  3. 4d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.10 RC5: related database views, better LAN sync
  4. 4d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.10 RC3: AI memory, database sub-items near stable
  5. 5d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.10 release candidate 2
  6. 5d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.10 release candidate 1
  7. 24d agoSyncthingSyncthing 2.1.7 rc.4 fixes ownership and receive-only sync
  8. 27d agoSyncthingSyncthing 2.1.7 rc.3 validates incoming protocol messages
  9. 1mo agoSyncthingSyncthing 2.1.7 rc.2 adds discovery announcement fix
  10. 1mo agoSyncthingSyncthing 2.1.7 rc.1 fixes SQLite edge cases
  11. 1mo agoSyncthingSyncthing 2.1.6 rc.4 adds Windows logging fix
  12. 1mo agoSyncthingSyncthing 2.1.6 rc.3 respin

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SiYuan and Syncthing?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. SiYuan and Syncthing are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, 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 SiYuan better than Syncthing?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. SiYuan and Syncthing are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 5.0 vs 5.0, 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 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.

What are the best alternatives to Syncthing?

Top Syncthing alternatives in Collab are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Syncthing alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/syncthing for the full list with editorial commentary on each.