1
Also covers python and self hosted · same kind of open-source project · open source
Note Discovery describes itself as a self-hosted knowledge base, according to its repository page.
Alternatives
The Best Silicon Alternatives in 2026
22 alternatives3 free · 9 open source
Looking for something like Silicon? Here are 22 alternatives, ranked by how closely they match it on purpose, features and platforms. Of these, 3 are free or have a free plan and 9 are open source.
Silicon Notes is a web-based personal knowledge base described as having few frills.
Top picks at a glance
First suggestionNote DiscoveryNote Discovery describes itself as a self-hosted knowledge…Free or freemium optionNoteDiscoveryNoteDiscovery provides a self-hosted Markdown knowledge…Another optionTriliumTrilium Notes supports building a personal knowledge base…
Quick comparison
| # | Alternative | Pricing | Open source | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Note Discovery | — | Yes | — |
| 2 | Trilium | — | Yes | — |
| 3 | Siyuan | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | NoteDiscovery | Free | Not stated | Web |
| 5 | Memos | — | Yes | — |
| 6 | Notesnook | — | Yes | Web, Android, iOS |
| 7 | Memos | — | Not stated | Web |
| 8 | AppFlowy | Freemium | Yes | Web, Windows, macOS |
| 9 | BookStack | Free | Not stated | Web |
| 10 | Recall | — | Not stated | Web |
All Silicon alternatives
2
Also covers self hosted · same kind of open-source project · open source
Trilium Notes supports building a personal knowledge base, as described by the project page.
3
Also covers self hosted · same kind of open-source project · open source
SiYuan offers a self-hosted knowledge workspace described as open-source and privacy-first, with collaboration for people and AI agents.
4
Also covers self hosted · free
NoteDiscovery provides a self-hosted Markdown knowledge base with AI assistant integration, wikilinks, and graph views.
5
Also covers self hosted · same kind of open-source project · open source
Memos provides a self-hosted timeline for short notes, which users can later find by search, tag, or date.
6
Also covers self hosted · same kind of open-source project · open source
A fully open source and end-to-end encrypted note taking alternative to Evernote.
7
Memos
usememos.comAlso covers self hosted
Memos supports short notes without titles or folders as an open-source, self-hosted app.
8
Also covers self hosted · open source · free plan
AppFlowy is a self-hosted AI workspace for enterprise teams to manage projects, wikis, and data with private AI, flexible databases, and full data control.
9
Also covers self hosted · free
BookStack provides a self-hosted wiki for organizing and storing information.
10
Recall
recall.itRecall saves and summarizes articles, videos, podcasts, PDFs, and notes in a personal AI knowledge base.
11
Trilium
triliumnotes.orgTrilium Notes is an open-source app for taking notes and organizing a personal knowledge base locally or through synchronization.
12
Same kind of open-source project · open source
Manage knowledge and collaborate with Logseq, an open-source platform described by its project as privacy-first.
13
Same kind of open-source project · open source
Manage Markdown knowledge bases with Tolaria, a desktop app described by its project page.
14
Affi Ne
github.com/toeverything/AFFiNESame kind of open-source project
AFFiNE is an open-source knowledge base combining pages and collaborative editing, according to its repository description.
15
Same kind of open-source project · open source
SwarmVault combines a local-first LLM wiki with a knowledge graph, RAG knowledge base, and agent memory store.
16
SigmaNote
sigmanote.appSigmaNote organizes PDFs, voice notes, webpages, and videos into a searchable knowledge base for AI-assisted learning and work.
17
Emanote
github.com/srid/emanoteSame kind of open-source project
Turn plain-text notes into structured websites such as blogs, wikis, notebooks, and knowledge bases with Emanote.
18
Slite
slite.comSlite provides a team knowledge base that stays synced with connected tools and is verified by the team.
19
SiYuan
b3log.org/siyuan/enSiYuan supports personal knowledge management with Markdown, block references, and bidirectional links.
20
Lokus
lokusmd.comLokus supports personal knowledge management on macOS, Windows, and Linux with Markdown, wiki links, graph view, and an infinite canvas.
21
logseq
logseq.comLogseq offers an open-source knowledge base, according to the supplied title.
22
Mem
mem.aiMem organizes meeting notes, projects, and knowledge bases for teams with searchable AI features.
No alternatives match this filter.
Alternatives to similar tools
Notesnook24 alternativesNoteDiscovery22 alternativesRecall15 alternativesEmanote13 alternativesAppFlowy19 alternativesSwarmVault24 alternatives
TopicNotes & Knowledge Management · 92 sites Best-of listBest Free Note-Taking Apps for Offline Use ListingSilicon details
What is the best alternative to Silicon?
Based on features, tags and platforms, the closest alternatives to Silicon are Note Discovery, Trilium, and Siyuan.
Is there a free alternative to Silicon?
Yes. NoteDiscovery, AppFlowy, and BookStack are free or offer a free plan.
Are there open-source alternatives to Silicon?
Yes: Note Discovery, Trilium, Siyuan, and Memos.
Alternatives are suggested from the purpose and features described in our listings. Different pages for the same product appear once. Read each description to check whether it fits your task. How we choose alternatives · Suggest an alternative