smasi
Swiss personal wiki app with no cloud dependency; sync only via your own iCloud or NAS
Quick Overview
| Company | 2S-Software AG |
|---|---|
| Category | Note Taking Alternatives |
| Headquarters | Stammheim, Switzerland |
| Founded | 2022 |
| EU Presence | Switzerland (Stammheim) |
| Data Location | No company-run cloud — collections sync only through the user's own iCloud account or their own NAS server over WebDAV |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Free Starter Edition, capped at 20 entries / USD 18 one-time in-app purchase per device for the unlimited version, no subscription |
| Free Option | Free Starter Edition with the full feature set, capped at 20 entries, not time-limited |
| Replaces | Evernote, Apple Notes, OneNote |
Detailed Review
smasi takes a different approach to the encrypted-vault question this category keeps returning to: instead of encrypting data on a server it does not trust, it mostly avoids having a server at all.
Notes are organised as a personal wiki of short, structured sections rather than Markdown, aimed at instructions, checklists, travel plans and short knowledge bases rather than long documents. No account or login is required to use it, and the company states plainly that data stays on the device unless you choose otherwise.
The publisher is 2S-Software AG, registered in the Swiss commercial register under UID CHE-209.993.214 with its registered office at Heerenweg 7, 8476 Stammheim.
Pricing is a one-time purchase rather than a subscription: the Starter Edition is free and capped at 20 entries with the full feature set, and the unlimited version costs USD 18 per device as a single in-app purchase. Apps exist for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux, which is a wider spread of desktop platforms than most of this category manages.
Sync is optional and entirely on the user's terms: collections move between your own devices through your personal iCloud account or your own NAS server over WebDAV, never through a server smasi runs.
That is a stronger residency answer than most of this category gives, because there is no vendor infrastructure to ask about, but it also means there is no web app, no real-time collaboration and no vendor-run backup if a device is lost without iCloud or a NAS behind it.
What smasi does well
- No vendor server at all by default — nothing to ask about hosting
- One-time purchase, no subscription: USD 18 per device, forever
- Free Starter Edition is capped, not time-limited
- Swiss AG verifiable in the commercial register with a named office
- Desktop coverage — Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux — wider than most rivals
Where smasi falls short
- No web app and no real-time collaboration; this is a personal tool
- Sync depends on the user's own iCloud or NAS, not a smasi service
- Price is set in US dollars, not euros
- No end-to-end encryption is claimed, because there is usually nothing to encrypt in transit
Standout feature. It is the only tool in this category that answers the hosting question by not running a server at all.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No vendor server at all by default — nothing to ask about hosting
- One-time purchase, no subscription: USD 18 per device, forever
- Free Starter Edition is capped, not time-limited
- Swiss AG verifiable in the commercial register with a named office
- Desktop coverage — Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and Linux — wider than most rivals
Cons
- No web app and no real-time collaboration; this is a personal tool
- Sync depends on the user's own iCloud or NAS, not a smasi service
- Price is set in US dollars, not euros
- No end-to-end encryption is claimed, because there is usually nothing to encrypt in transit
Alternatives to smasi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is smasi?
smasi takes a different approach to the encrypted-vault question this category keeps returning to: instead of encrypting data on a server it does not trust, it mostly avoids having a server at all.
Notes are organised as a personal wiki of short, structured sections rather than Markdown, aimed at instructions, checklists, travel plans and short knowledge bases rather than long documents. No account or login is required to use it, and the company states plainly that data stays on the device unless you choose otherwise.
Where is smasi based?
smasi operates from Stammheim, Switzerland, which places it under Switzerland (Stammheim).
What does smasi cost?
Free Starter Edition, capped at 20 entries / USD 18 one-time in-app purchase per device for the unlimited version, no subscription. Free Starter Edition with the full feature set, capped at 20 entries, not time-limited.
Who is smasi best for?
People who want a personal wiki with zero cloud dependency. It is the only tool in this category that answers the hosting question by not running a server at all.
What are the drawbacks of smasi?
No web app and no real-time collaboration; this is a personal tool. Sync depends on the user's own iCloud or NAS, not a smasi service. Price is set in US dollars, not euros. No end-to-end encryption is claimed, because there is usually nothing to encrypt in transit.
Is smasi a good alternative to Evernote?
smasi is built as a European alternative to Evernote: Swiss personal wiki app with no cloud dependency; sync only via your own iCloud or NAS. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does smasi compare to other Note Taking Alternatives tools?
smasi is one of several European Note Taking Alternatives tools we cover. It is most often compared with Evernote, Apple Notes, OneNote.