GoodNotes vs SiYuan
| Tagline | Digital paper for handwritten notes | Privacy-first personal knowledge system |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing | Freemium | Open Source |
| Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Comments | 0 | 0 |
| Page views | 0 | 0 |
| Click-through to site | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Readiness Score | 0/100 | 57/100 |
| Launched | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Maker | — | — |
What is GoodNotes?
GoodNotes lets you write notes and annotate PDFs on iPad and other devices.
What is SiYuan?
SiYuan is an open-source, block-based note app that stores data locally.
Not sold on either? See alternatives to GoodNotes or alternatives to SiYuan.
Verdict
SiYuan leads on 1 of the measurable metrics above (votes, engagement, click-through and readiness). Choose GoodNotes if you want digital paper for handwritten notes; choose SiYuan if you want privacy-first personal knowledge system.
Is GoodNotes better than SiYuan?
On AskableHQ's community and engagement data, SiYuan currently performs better, but the right choice depends on your use case.
Which is cheaper, GoodNotes or SiYuan?
GoodNotes is Freemium; SiYuan is Open Source. Check each website for current plans.