# GNO vs GPT4All

**Verdict**: GPT4All is a desktop local LLM chat app with LocalDocs. GNO is a local knowledge workspace with stronger search, browse, graph, CLI, API, and agent integration surfaces.

GPT4All is one of the most popular ways to run local LLMs. It focuses on an easy desktop chat experience with optional document context via LocalDocs. GNO focuses on document retrieval and workspace navigation first, with LLMs used for reranking and grounded RAG answers.

## At a Glance

- Choose **GPT4All** if your main goal is "run local chat models with a desktop app."
- Choose **GNO** if your main goal is "search, browse, and reuse my knowledge base across humans and agents."
- GPT4All is chat-first with document context. GNO is retrieval-first with workspace surfaces.

## Get Started

```bash
# GNO
bun install -g @gmickel/gno
gno init ~/notes --name notes && gno index

# GPT4All
# Download desktop app from gpt4all.io
# Or: pip install gpt4all
```

## Quick Summary

| Aspect              | GNO                        | GPT4All                    |
| ------------------- | -------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| **Best for**        | Document search, AI agents | Running local LLMs, chat   |
| **Unique strength** | Hybrid search, MCP         | Easy LLM access, LocalDocs |
| **Interface**       | CLI + Web UI               | Desktop app                |

## Feature Comparison

| Feature             | GNO                                                      | GPT4All                 |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- |
| **Primary Focus**   | Document search                                          | Local LLM chat          |
| **LocalDocs/RAG**   | ✓ Core feature                                           | ✓ LocalDocs feature     |
| **Search Modes**    | BM25, Vector, Hybrid                                     | Vector only             |
| **Reranking**       | ✓ Cross-encoder                                          | ✗                       |
| **CLI**             | ✓ Full-featured                                          | Python SDK only         |
| **REST API**        | ✓                                                        | ✓ OpenAI-compatible     |
| **MCP Support**     | ✓                                                        | ✗                       |
| **Headless Daemon** | ✓ `gno daemon`                                           | ✗                       |
| **Desktop App**     | ✗                                                        | ✓                       |
| **Model Library**   | 3 presets                                                | Thousands of models     |
| **GPU Support**     | ✓ Auto backend (Metal/CUDA/Vulkan) + remote GPU via HTTP | ✓ Vulkan (NVIDIA/AMD)   |
| **File Formats**    | MD, PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, TXT                           | PDF, DOCX, TXT, MD, RST |
| **License**         | MIT                                                      | MIT                     |

## GNO Advantages

GNO wins when search quality and knowledge reuse matter more than local-chat model variety.

**Hybrid search**: Combines BM25 keyword search with vector semantic search for better results.

```bash
gno query "authentication middleware" --mode hybrid
```

**Cross-encoder reranking**: Reranks results using a cross-encoder model for higher precision.

```bash
gno query "how to configure oauth" --rerank
```

**MCP for AI assistants**: Let Claude, Cursor, or other AI tools search your documents.

```bash
gno mcp install --target claude
# Now Claude can search your indexed documents
```

**CLI-first design**: Script searches, pipe to other tools, integrate into workflows.

```bash
gno query "database migrations" --format json | jq '.results[].path'
```

**Multiple collections**: Manage separate indexes for different projects.

```bash
gno init ~/work --name work
gno init ~/personal --name personal
gno query "meeting notes" --collection work
```

**Headless continuous indexing**: Keep your corpus fresh for agents and scripts without opening the workspace.

```bash
gno daemon
```

**Flexible acceleration**: Local models can use `node-llama-cpp` GPU backends when available, and GNO can also offload inference to remote GPU servers over HTTP.

**More file formats**: Index Excel (XLSX) and PowerPoint (PPTX) files.

## GPT4All Advantages

GPT4All wins when the local chat app itself is the product you want.

**Easy LLM access**: Download and run thousands of LLMs with a few clicks. No CLI needed.

**Desktop app experience**: Native app for Windows, macOS, and Linux with polished UI.

**GPU acceleration**: Vulkan support for NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. Faster inference on supported hardware.

**No GPU required**: Also runs on CPU-only machines with modest specs (Intel Core i3 2nd Gen or better).

**OpenAI-compatible API**: Docker-based API server provides familiar OpenAI-style endpoint.

**Large model ecosystem**: Access to LLaMA, Mistral, DeepSeek, and many other model families.

**Commercial use**: MIT license allows commercial deployment.

## When to Choose GNO

- You want precise document search, not just chat
- Hybrid search (keyword + semantic) matters for your content
- You need CLI access or scripting capabilities
- You want AI assistants to search your documents via MCP
- You need reranking for high-precision results
- You work with Excel or PowerPoint files
- You want multiple separate collections

## When to Choose GPT4All

- You want an easy way to run local LLMs with a desktop app
- Chat is your primary use case, document search is secondary
- You want GPU acceleration for faster inference
- You need access to many different LLM models
- You prefer a visual app over command-line tools
- You want the OpenAI-compatible API for existing integrations
- LocalDocs "good enough" RAG fits your needs

## Complementary Use

You can use both together. GPT4All for chat, GNO for precise document search:

```bash
# Index your documents with GNO for precise search
gno init ~/Documents --name docs
gno index

# Use GNO for search, GPT4All for chat
gno query "project requirements" --format json

# Or let Claude search via MCP while using GPT4All for other chats
gno mcp install --target claude
```

## Next Steps

- Want grounded answers instead of general local chat? See [MCP Integration](../MCP.md) and [Web UI](../WEB-UI.md).
- Want to compare retrieval quality directly? Read [How Search Works](../HOW-SEARCH-WORKS.md).
- Ready to try it? Use the [Quickstart](../QUICKSTART.md).
