SiYuan

Application512MB+ RAM

Privacy-first personal knowledge management system with block-based editing

Download Server Compass View Documentation

notesknowledge-managementblock-editorprivacy

Deploy SiYuan in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select SiYuan

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Why Self-Host SiYuan?

SiYuan is a privacy-first knowledge management system with block-based editing, bidirectional links, and a graph view. Self-hosting ensures your personal knowledge base — which often contains your most valuable thinking and research — remains completely private.

Block-based editing with bidirectional links and graph visualization

Your personal knowledge base stays entirely private

Built-in spaced repetition for learning and retention

Local-first with web access when you need it

SQL-powered search across all your notes and blocks

SiYuan vs Alternatives

SiYuan vs Obsidian

Obsidian is local-only unless you pay for sync. SiYuan provides web access and sync built into the self-hosted package.

SiYuan vs Logseq

Logseq is outliner-focused. SiYuan offers richer block types and a more polished editing experience with built-in sync.

SiYuan vs Notion

Notion stores data on their servers. SiYuan is privacy-first with all data on your own infrastructure.

Why Deploy SiYuan with Server Compass?

Server Compass deploys SiYuan with persistent storage for your entire knowledge base and configures web access so you can reach your notes from any device through your server.

Download Server Compass

After Deployment

After deploying SiYuan with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Access the web interface

Create your first notebook

Configure sync settings

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

SiYuan FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting SiYuan

How do I deploy SiYuan with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select SiYuan from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for SiYuan?

SiYuan requires a minimum of 512MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing SiYuan data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard SiYuan backup and restore procedures.

How do I update SiYuan to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest SiYuan image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is SiYuan free to self-host?

SiYuan is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.