Caliu vs Google Keep
Google Keep is free, instant, and perfect for a shopping list you will delete tomorrow. It was never built for notes you keep. Caliu is for the ones that outlive the week: real Markdown, notes that stay on your device, and an export button that actually gives you your writing back.
| Feature | Caliu | Google Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Markdown editingKeep has checklists and bold text, and no Markdown at all. | ||
| Long-form writingKeep's card model is built for short notes; long documents are uncomfortable in it. | ||
| Notes stay on your deviceCaliu is local-first and works with no account. Keep is a Google account service. | ||
| Nested tagsKeep has flat labels. Caliu nests tags (#work/project) straight from the text. | ||
| Reminders attached to notesBoth do this well; Keep also does location-based reminders. | ||
| Export to open formatsCaliu exports Markdown, TXT, HTML, RTF, ePub, PDF and TextPack per note. Keep exports through Google Takeout as HTML and JSON. | ||
| FreeKeep is entirely free. Caliu's core is free; Pro is $1.99/month or $17.99/year. | ||
| Native Mac, iPhone and iPad appsKeep is a web app and an Android and iOS app; there is no Mac app. | ||
| Collaboration on a noteShared Keep lists with family are genuinely useful. Caliu offers public read-only share links. | ||
| Google ecosystem integrationKeep sits inside Gmail, Docs and Assistant. | ||
| REST API and MCP serverKeep has no public notes API for personal accounts. | ||
| Version history |
Pick Caliu if
- Your notes have outgrown the card: you are writing paragraphs, not captions.
- You want the text in Markdown, portable and exportable, not locked to one account.
- You would rather your notes were not in a Google account at all: Caliu works with no account, and nothing leaves the device until you sign in.
- You want a real Mac app and a proper editor rather than a browser tab.
Pick Google Keep if
- You want free forever with zero friction, and Keep already is.
- You share lists with family and edit them together in real time.
- You live in Gmail, Docs and Assistant, and Keep being right there is the whole value.
- Location-based reminders matter to you.
Switching from Google Keep
Caliu reads Google Takeout archives directly. Request a Takeout export for Keep, then drop the resulting .zip straight into Caliu's import, no conversion step needed. Your notes come across with their labels, and checklists arrive as Markdown task lists you can still tick off.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import my Google Keep notes into Caliu?
Yes, and it is a one-step import. Export Keep through Google Takeout and upload the .zip archive in Caliu. Each archive can bring in up to 500 notes.
Is Caliu private compared to Google Keep?
Caliu works with no account at all, and in that mode nothing leaves your device. When you sign in, notes sync encrypted in transit to Caliu's own servers, and are never sold or used for advertising. Keep is tied to a Google account by design.
Does Caliu do reminders like Keep?
Yes. Pin a time to any note and Caliu pushes the nudge to whichever device you pick up. What Caliu does not do is location-based reminders, which Keep handles well.
Is Caliu free like Google Keep?
Caliu's free tier covers unlimited notes, sync across devices and Markdown export, with no account needed to start. Caliu Pro ($1.99/month or $17.99/year) adds version history, voice dictation, drawing, the richer export formats and API access. Keep costs nothing at any level, so if free is the only criterion, Keep wins.