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Comparison · Collab

SiYuan vs Zoho Notebook

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

Shared themes:note-taking

SiYuan vs Zoho Notebook: at a glance

FeatureSiYuanZoho Notebook
SectorCollabCollab
Velocity score5.02.5
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesnote-taking, knowledge base, mind maps, databasesnote-taking, ai assistant, productivity, content marketing
Last editorial update13h ago4mo 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 Zoho Notebook?

Zoho Notebook layers AI onto a note app, but its feed runs heavy on marketing.

Zoho Notebook's tracked feed is a slow, marketing-heavy blog — digital-minimalism essays, year-in-review recaps, and seasonal posts interleaved with a few genuine product announcements. The real signal in the window is the product's AI buildout: Notebook AI (an in-app assistant) and AI Meeting Notes, plus periodic Apple-OS support refreshes. Cadence is low and entries span more than a year.

Read the full Zoho Notebook trajectory →

SiYuan vs Zoho Notebook: 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.

Z2.5

Zoho Notebook layers AI onto a note app, but its feed runs heavy on marketing.

◆ Current state

Zoho Notebook's tracked feed is a slow, marketing-heavy blog — digital-minimalism essays, year-in-review recaps, and seasonal posts interleaved with a few genuine product announcements. The real signal in the window is the product's AI buildout: Notebook AI (an in-app assistant) and AI Meeting Notes, plus periodic Apple-OS support refreshes. Cadence is low and entries span more than a year.

◆ Where it's heading

The product's arc is a steady move from manual note-taking toward an AI-assisted workspace, with the assistant and meeting-notes features as the substantive steps amid a stream of content marketing. Because the feed mixes promotion with releases, the genuine shipping signal is sparse and easy to lose in the noise.

◆ Prediction

Expect continued AI feature extensions (capture, summarization, organization) and routine Apple-OS support updates, with marketing posts dominating volume. Deeper integration into the wider Zoho suite is the likely direction, though the slow feed makes timing hard to call.

Alternatives to SiYuan and Zoho Notebook

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 Zoho Notebook.

See all SiYuan alternatives → · See all Zoho Notebook alternatives →

Recent activity from SiYuan and Zoho Notebook

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. 4mo agoZoho NotebookDigital minimalism: Why one note-taking app is all you need
  8. 6mo agoZoho NotebookAI Meeting Notes: Turn meetings into notes with Zoho Notebook
  9. 11mo agoZoho NotebookA #Recap of Zoho Notebook in 2025
  10. 1y agoZoho NotebookZoho Notebook gets even better with Apple’s latest OS 26 updates!
  11. 1y agoZoho NotebookMeet Notebook AI: Your personal AI assistant in Zoho Notebook ⚡
  12. 1y agoZoho NotebookWomen’s Day Special: Practical Lessons from Zoho’s Women Leaders on Productivity

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SiYuan and Zoho Notebook?

Both compete on the same themes — note-taking — within Collab. SiYuan is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 2.5), 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 SiYuan better than Zoho Notebook?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. SiYuan is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 2.5), 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 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 Zoho Notebook?

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