GaspGasp vs iA Writer
iA Writer and Gasp are both apps for writing in Markdown. Both save your writing as ordinary text files in folders you choose. iA Writer is built for focused writing. It can dim everything except the sentence you're writing. It also points out filler words. Gasp is built for a whole folder of notes that link to each other. It adds math, sync and locked notes. Gasp is free. iA Writer costs $49.99 on a Mac.
Which one fits you
iA Writer fits if you
Gasp fits if you
iA WriterGasp
Pick what you need from either list.
Feature by feature
TopicGaspiA Writer
Price
Free.
$49.99, paid once, on a Mac. $29.99, paid once, on Windows.
Your notes
Ordinary text files (Markdown) in a folder you choose.
Ordinary text files (Markdown) in folders you choose.
Sync
Built in, through iCloud Drive or GitHub.
Through iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.
Locked notes
You can lock any note with a password. Nobody can read it without that password.
iA Writer can't lock notes.
Writing help
Gasp checks spelling and grammar without the internet. It can also color sentences by how long they are.
Focus Mode dims everything except your current sentence. Style Check points out filler words and clichés.
AI assistants
AI assistants like Claude, Cursor and Codex can read and edit your notes. You connect one with a click in Gasp's settings.
iA Writer doesn't connect to AI assistants. It marks text that you paste from AI tools.
Computers and phones
Mac and Linux today. Windows and iPhone apps are coming.
Mac, Windows, iPhone and iPad.
Moving from iA Writer
- Download Gasp and open it.
- Your iA Writer files are already Markdown. In Gasp, choose Open a folder and pick the folder where iA Writer saves your writing.
- If that folder is in iCloud Drive or Dropbox, it keeps syncing the same way. Gasp can also sync it through GitHub instead.
Questions
Is Gasp a free alternative to iA Writer?
Yes, on Mac and Linux. Both apps save ordinary Markdown files. You can open the same folder in either app.
Does Gasp have a focus mode?
Not like iA Writer's. Gasp can color each sentence by how long it is. Long sentences show in one color and short ones in another. Gasp also checks your spelling and grammar without the internet.