Caliu vs Notion
Notion is a workspace: databases, wikis, shared docs, a whole company's second brain. Caliu is a notes app. If you have been using Notion to jot things down and it feels like arriving at a meeting to write a shopping list, this is the comparison for you.
| Feature | Caliu | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Markdown underneathNotion is a block model that accepts Markdown shortcuts; what is stored is blocks, not Markdown. | ||
| Works fully offlineCaliu is local-first: every note is on the device and opens with no network. Notion's offline support has improved but the workspace is still server-owned. | ||
| Opens with no accountNotion requires signing up before you can write anything. | ||
| Opens instantlyCaliu reads from local storage; there is no page load between you and a note. | ||
| Databases, boards and relationsThis is Notion's whole point and Caliu does not attempt it. | ||
| Real-time collaborationNotion has multiplayer editing, comments and permissions. Caliu offers public read-only share links. | ||
| Nested hashtag organizationNotion organizes by pages and database properties rather than tags in the text. | ||
| Native Mac, iPhone and iPad appsNotion's desktop and mobile apps wrap the web app. | ||
| Export to open formatsCaliu exports Markdown, TXT, HTML, RTF, ePub, PDF and TextPack per note. Notion exports Markdown and HTML, but nested databases come out awkwardly. | ||
| REST APIBoth document a proper API. | ||
| MCP server for AI agents | ||
| Free tier without a seat countCaliu's free tier is the whole notes app for one person. Notion's free plan is generous solo but limits collaborative use. Caliu Pro is $1.99/month or $17.99/year. |
Pick Caliu if
- You want to write a note, not build a system: no database schema, no page hierarchy, no template to pick first.
- You want notes that open with no network and no loading state, on a plane or a bad connection.
- You want the text to be real Markdown you can take anywhere.
- You are one person, not a team, and you are paying for collaboration features you never use.
Pick Notion if
- You need databases, relations, boards and views: a notes app cannot replace them.
- You work with other people in the same document, with comments and permissions.
- Your team wiki, projects and docs already live there, and notes are only one part of it.
Switching from Notion
Caliu imports Notion exports directly. In Notion choose Export, pick the JSON format, and drop the file into Caliu's import. Pages become notes and hashtags become tags. Databases have no equivalent in a notes app, so expect the rows to arrive as ordinary notes rather than as a table, and plan to leave genuinely database-shaped work in Notion.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import my Notion pages into Caliu?
Yes. Caliu reads Notion's JSON export: export from Notion, import the file in Caliu, and your pages arrive as notes with their hashtags recreated as tags. Each file can bring in up to 500 notes.
Can Caliu replace Notion?
Only for the notes part, and we would rather say so plainly. If you use databases, relations, boards or shared team docs, Caliu has no answer for those. Many people run both: Notion for the workspace, Caliu for the thinking and the quick capture.
Does Caliu work offline better than Notion?
Yes, by design rather than by degree. Caliu is local-first: your notes live on the device, open instantly with no network, and sync in the background when you are online. There is no read-only offline mode to fall into.
Do I need an account to use Caliu?
No. Caliu opens and writes with no account, on the web included, and those notes are yours on that device. Signing in is free and is what turns on sync across devices.