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Comparison · Collab

SiYuan vs Slite

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

SiYuan vs Slite: at a glance

FeatureSiYuanSlite
SectorCollabCollab
Velocity score5.00.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesnote-taking, knowledge base, ai agent, databasesmcp, agent-access, knowledge-base, editor-layout
Last editorial update23h ago3mo ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is SiYuan?

SiYuan 3.8.9 reaches RC, adding AI-agent extraction of images embedded in PDFs.

SiYuan moved 3.8.9 from beta.6 to rc.1 on Oct 28. The RC's only new item is AI-agent extraction of images embedded in PDFs; the rest of its long list matches beta.5's cumulative notes: pinned agent sessions, backlink filtering by database fields, block-reference collection through database automation, resizable table rows, mind-map themes and node copy/paste, TIFF previews and macOS proxy detection.

Read the full SiYuan trajectory →

What is Slite?

Slite is making its docs readable by agents before it finishes making them prettier.

Slite is a team knowledge base whose recent releases split between editor surface work and agent access. The MCP integration now exposes comment threads for reading and resolving, while the editor gained multi-column layouts and a reworked boxed shell that demotes Search and Ask to ordinary sidebar rows. The feed also carries recurring privacy-banner fragments that are crawler artifacts, not releases.

Read the full Slite trajectory →

SiYuan vs Slite: editorial side-by-side

S
SiYuan
COLLAB
5.0

SiYuan 3.8.9 reaches RC, adding AI-agent extraction of images embedded in PDFs.

◆ Current state

SiYuan moved 3.8.9 from beta.6 to rc.1 on Oct 28. The RC's only new item is AI-agent extraction of images embedded in PDFs; the rest of its long list matches beta.5's cumulative notes: pinned agent sessions, backlink filtering by database fields, block-reference collection through database automation, resizable table rows, mind-map themes and node copy/paste, TIFF previews and macOS proxy detection.

◆ Where it's heading

The 3.8.x line keeps turning databases and mind maps into structured tools that act on the block graph, and the built-in agent is gaining reach into document content such as PDFs. The release cadence is fast and noisy, with most builds repeating the same cumulative notes.

◆ Prediction

A stable 3.8.9 is likely within days, with little added beyond fixes now that it has reached RC.

Slite logo
Slite
COLLAB
0.0

Slite is making its docs readable by agents before it finishes making them prettier.

◆ Current state

Slite is a team knowledge base whose recent releases split between editor surface work and agent access. The MCP integration now exposes comment threads for reading and resolving, while the editor gained multi-column layouts and a reworked boxed shell that demotes Search and Ask to ordinary sidebar rows. The feed also carries recurring privacy-banner fragments that are crawler artifacts, not releases.

◆ Where it's heading

The MCP work is the load-bearing direction. Exposing comment threads — not just document text — means an external agent can participate in the review loop rather than only read the output, which is a different product than a searchable wiki. The layout changes read as groundwork; the release notes themselves say the sidebar rework 'sets the stage' for something larger.

◆ Prediction

The natural next step is writing through MCP — posting comments or edits, not just resolving threads. The boxed-layout note explicitly signals a bigger change behind it, but the entries don't say what it is.

Alternatives to SiYuan and Slite

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 Slite.

See all SiYuan alternatives → · See all Slite alternatives →

Recent activity from SiYuan and Slite

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

  1. 1d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.9 RC1: AI agent extracts images from PDFs
  2. 1d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.9 beta 6 (same notes as beta 5)
  3. 2d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.9 beta 5: full notes incl. pinned agent sessions
  4. 2d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.9 beta 4 improves LaTeX paste and import
  5. 2d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.9 beta 3 (same notes as beta 1)
  6. 2d agoSiYuanSiYuan 3.8.9 beta 2 (same notes as beta 1)
  7. 5mo agoSliteNew boxed layout
  8. 6mo agoSliteMCP: Read and resolve comment threads ⚡
  9. 6mo agoSlitePrivacy banner text (feed artifact)
  10. 6mo agoSliteYou can now place content side by side in your docs.
  11. 6mo agoSliteMulti-column layouts (duplicate feed entry)
  12. 6mo agoSlitePrivacy link text (feed artifact)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SiYuan and Slite?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. SiYuan is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), 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 Slite?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. SiYuan is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), 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 Slite?

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