PromptNote vs Espanso
Espanso is a powerful open-source text expander. PromptNote is an AI-native prompt notebook with versioning, cloud sync, and MCP integration.
Feature comparison
Both are free. Different tools for different jobs.
| Feature | PromptNote | Espanso |
|---|---|---|
| Visual web interface | ✓ | — |
| Prompt version history | ✓ | — |
| Cloud sync across devices | ✓ | — |
| MCP server for AI tools | ✓ | — |
| Agent Skills integration | ✓ | — |
| Smart auto-tagging | ✓ | — |
| System-wide text expansion | — | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
Key differences
Visual prompt notebook
PromptNote provides a clean web UI for writing, organizing, and comparing prompts. No YAML files, no config syntax to learn.
Cloud-synced everywhere
Your prompts sync across web, Android, Raycast, and CLI automatically. Espanso configs live on one machine unless you sync them manually.
AI-tool integration
Connect your prompt library to Claude, Cursor, VS Code via MCP. Load prompts as Agent Skills. Espanso expands text — it doesn't talk to AI tools.
Version control built in
Every prompt iteration is saved as a snippet with diff comparison. In Espanso, you overwrite the previous version unless you use Git manually.
Where Espanso wins
Espanso is excellent at what it does. Here's where it shines.
System-wide text expansion: type a trigger anywhere on your OS and Espanso replaces it instantly — in any app, any field.
Fully open source with a passionate community. Inspect, modify, and self-host with complete transparency.
Advanced match patterns with regex, shell commands, scripts, and form fields for dynamic text generation.
What users say
"I use Espanso for code snippets and PromptNote for AI prompts. They complement each other perfectly — different tools for different jobs."
"Managing prompt versions in YAML files was painful. PromptNote's visual diffing and cloud sync changed my workflow completely."
"The MCP integration is what sold me. My AI assistants can pull from my prompt library automatically. Espanso can't do that."
A prompt notebook that talks to your AI tools
Free to use, cloud-synced, version-controlled. Start in seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use both PromptNote and Espanso?
Absolutely. Many developers use Espanso for system-wide text expansion and PromptNote specifically for AI prompt management with versioning and MCP.
Does PromptNote support text expansion triggers?
No. PromptNote focuses on prompt management, versioning, and AI tool integration. For quick access, use the Raycast extension or CLI.
Is PromptNote open source?
The CLI tool is open source. The web app and API are proprietary but free to use with no feature gating.
Can I use PromptNote from the terminal?
Yes. The pnote CLI lets you search, list, and copy prompts from your terminal. It's pipe-friendly and scriptable.
Does PromptNote work offline?
Guest mode works fully offline with local storage. The CLI caches data for offline use. Full offline-first sync is planned.