Gasp

Gasp vs Notion

Notion is a website and app where teams write pages together. Your pages live on Notion's computers, called servers. Several people can edit the same page at the same moment. Gasp is an app on your own computer. It keeps your notes as ordinary text files on your device. It can also lock private notes with a password. A small team can also share notes in Gasp through GitHub.

Which one fits you

Notion fits if you

Gasp fits if you

NotionGasp

Pick what you need from either list.

Feature by feature

TopicGaspNotion
Price
Free.
There's a free plan. The Plus plan costs $10 per person per month, paid yearly.
Where your notes live
On your own computer, as ordinary text files (Markdown).
On Notion's servers. You can export your pages as Markdown files.
Working offline
Everything works offline, because every note is a file on your computer.
Only in the desktop and phone apps. You have to save each page for offline use before you go offline.
Locked notes
When you lock a note, Gasp scrambles it on your computer before it syncs. Nobody without your password can read it.
Notion encrypts pages on its servers. Notion holds the keys to that encryption, not you.
Account
You don't need an account.
You need a Notion account.
AI assistants
You can use the AI assistant you already have. Claude, Cursor or Codex can read and edit your notes.
Notion AI is built in on paid plans. Other AI assistants can connect through Notion's own connector.
Working with others
A team can share one folder of notes through GitHub. Each person's changes reach the others within a few minutes.
Several people can edit a page at the same moment. They can also leave comments and share pages.
Databases
Gasp has tables that you edit like a spreadsheet. It has no databases, boards or calendars.
Tables, boards, calendars and forms that you can sort and filter.
Computers and phones
Mac and Linux today. Windows and iPhone apps are coming.
Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android and any web browser.

Moving from Notion

  1. In Notion, open Settings and choose to export all workspace content. Pick the Markdown & CSV format. Notion gives you a .zip file. Open it to get a folder.
  2. Download Gasp and open it.
  3. In Gasp, choose Open a folder and pick that folder. Your pages open as notes. Your databases become spreadsheet files (CSV). They stay in the same folder.
  4. If you want your notes on more than one computer, turn on sync in Gasp's settings. On a Mac you can use iCloud Drive. On any computer you can use a free, private folder on GitHub, which Gasp sets up for you.

Questions

Is Gasp a good Notion alternative?

It is if you want your notes on your own computer and your private notes locked with a password. Notion is the better choice if your team edits the same pages at the same moment, or if you rely on databases.

Can my team share notes in Gasp?

Yes, through GitHub, a website that stores files for you. First, one person makes a private folder for the notes on GitHub and invites the others. Then each person opens Gasp's sync settings and chooses Use a repository address and token. Gasp sends each person's changes to the others within a few minutes. You won't see other people type in real time, the way you do in Google Docs. If two people change the same line, Gasp shows both versions. You choose which one to keep.

Can Notion read my notes?

Notion encrypts your pages on its servers. However, Notion holds the keys to that encryption, not you. Gasp never sees your notes at all. Your notes sync through your own iCloud or GitHub account. Notes you lock in Gasp are scrambled on your computer before they leave it.

Does Gasp work offline?

Yes. Every note is a file on your computer. You can write anywhere, even without internet. When you're back online, Gasp syncs your changes.

Try Gasp

Download Gasp