For Mac & Windows · local-first

A clear mind.
Everything in one place.

Your tasks, notes and all your files in one calm tool. Locally on your computer or in a cloud of your choice. As plain files that belong to you — not locked in someone else's database.

Now in open beta. Free, no payment details.
Zero telemetry. Nothing goes to the cloud unless you want it to.
Space System in action: a context list with tasks, contexts and dates.
Built by a GTD trainer with 20+ years of practice.
Runs natively on Mac and Windows.
Your data stays with you as open text files.
How it works

Just type your task. Space System sorts out the rest.

You capture like in any good task manager — Space System recognises context, project and date automatically. You never see any Markdown or syntax.

Space System in action — tasks with contexts, dates and pills, calm and native.
You type
Write proposal for Klaus #office @Website tomorrow
Becomes
Write proposal for Klaus
#office Website 📅 tomorrow

Markdown stays invisible

You type and read plain text — no asterisks, no hashes, no syntax. How Space System stores it, you never see.

Tasks, notes & files

Everything lives together: your to-dos, your knowledge and the documents that go with them — one system instead of five scattered apps.

Today, Inbox, Projects …

Your tasks show up automatically where they belong: due today, in the inbox, in the right project or context — no double bookkeeping.

What is Space System

Your second brain, your to-do list and all your files — in the same system.

Most tools lock your notes, tasks and above all your files into separate worlds. Space System brings it all together — in one calm interface where you simply work, while contexts and dates are recognised automatically. No lock-in: everything lives as plain files in your own folder and belongs to you.

Your files belong to you

Everything is stored as plain text files in your folder — no proprietary format, no foreign database. Open, back up and move them with any tool. Your data outlives every app, this one included.

GTD & PARA, built deep

Tasks with context, date and defer date. Today, Inbox, Projects, Areas, Resources and Archive — the structure GTD and PARA need together.

Local & private

Everything runs on your computer. No cloud requirement, no telemetry, no analysis behind your back. Privacy here isn't a checkbox — it's the foundation.

Write without seeing the syntax

You see formatted text instead of asterisks and hashes — underneath it stays cleanly stored. No mode switch, no separate preview window: just write.

A look inside

This is what clarity looks like.

A calm, native interface — no cluttered dashboard, no web-app feel.

Space System's Today view: overdue and due-today tasks with context, project and date.
Today

Your day, without the noise

What's overdue and what's due today — with context, project and date. One task, maintained in one place, visible everywhere.

Space System's Areas view: PARA areas with project and note counts, as real folders on disk.
Areas

Tasks, notes — and all your files

Other note apps manage only notes. Space System is your entire structure: projects, areas, notes and all the files and attachments that belong to them — as real folders on your disk. Tasks, knowledge and documents finally in one place.

A project in Space System as a bento: tasks, notes and attached files side by side.
Projects

One project, everything together

In every project your tasks, notes and the related files sit side by side — as a bento you arrange yourself. No jumping between apps, no hunting for which document went with which task.

Why Space System

Your thoughts belong to you. Not the app.

Most tools solve only part of it. Space System brings together what belongs together.

Note apps Task apps Cloud suites Space System
Tasks, notes and files together no no partly
GTD and PARA built in no partly no
Everything as open files you keep partly no no
Usable without a cloud account partly no no
No telemetry partly no no
Pascal Reischl, the developer of Space System
The maker

Built by someone who lives GTD.

Space System didn't come out of a startup lab. I'm Pascal, a GTD trainer and consultant for over 20 years. For years I tried every tool that promises tasks, notes and files in one place. None took GTD and PARA seriously without locking my data into someone else's database. So I built the tool I use myself every day. Foundation before features. A clear mind — “mind like water”.

Who it's for

For everyone who wants a clear head.

GTD coaches & consultants

A tool that takes Getting Things Done seriously — deep enough for you, clear enough to recommend to clients.

Freelancers & the self-employed

Projects, clients, ideas and the files that go with them — in one place, without stitching together five different subscriptions.

Students & researchers

Notes, sources and tasks in a searchable, lasting archive that belongs to you — not to the next app.

Developers & knowledge workers

Plain-text-first, local, no lock-in. Real files that fit any editor, backup and script.

Getting started

Up and running in five minutes.

No setup marathon, no accounts, no cloud sign-up. Download, pick a folder, start writing.

1

Download & open

Download the version for your computer, install it and start Space System. Signed and notarised by Apple — no fiddling with security warnings.

2

Pick a folder

Point Space System at a folder — empty or full of notes, local or in your cloud. Everything stays in plain files that belong to you.

3

Capture a task

Press  N (Windows: Ctrl N) and just start typing. Space System reads context, project and date straight from your sentence.

4

Structure grows with you

Today, Inbox, Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive: the GTD & PARA structure is there when you need it — and stays out of sight when you don't.

Pricing & licence

Fairly priced. Free during beta.

€29/ year · all features

Open beta: your yearly licence is free right now — and stays valid until it expires

Why a subscription for a local app? Because one person builds, maintains and improves Space System. The subscription keeps updates, signing and direct support running. Your files stay yours regardless — they live as open text files in your folder, readable with any editor, even without an active subscription.

  • All features unlocked
  • For Mac & Windows, up to 3 devices
  • All updates included
  • A direct line to the developer
Download

Get it now — for your computer.

Signed, notarised and with built-in auto-update. You only need a licence to activate — and it's free right now.

Recommended

macOS · Apple Silicon

For M1, M2, M3 & M4 Macs

Apple Silicon·≈ 30 MB·.dmg
Download for Apple Silicon
New

macOS · Intel

For older Intel Macs

Intel x86-64·≈ 32 MB·.dmg
Download for Intel

Windows

Windows 10 & 11 (64-bit)

x86-64·≈ 19 MB·.exe
Download for Windows
Beta

iPhone · Space Buddy

Capture and tick off on the go

iOS 17+·TestFlight·free
Join the beta

On first launch the Mac may run a brief check — the builds are notarised by Apple. The Windows build follows the Mac version with a delay. Space Buddy is still an open beta via Apple's TestFlight: install TestFlight from the App Store first, then open the beta link above on your iPhone — there is no code to type in.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Where is my data?

In a folder of your choice on your computer — as plain text files. No server, no proprietary database, no hidden format. You can open your notes anytime with any other program.

Is there anything for my phone?

Space Buddy — the iPhone companion: capture thoughts (including from any app's share sheet, screenshots included), tick off context lists, read your projects and areas. It syncs directly with your Mac on the same network — no cloud, no account: your phone never talks to a server of ours.

It is currently available as an open beta. How to get in:

1. Install TestFlight from the App Store (Apple's official beta app).
2. Open this link on your iPhone: testflight.apple.com/join/2JrnVH9a — Space Buddy then appears ready to install. There is no code to type anywhere; it is already part of the link.
3. In Space System on your Mac: Settings → General → Space Buddy (phone), switch on “Phone sync server”, click “Pair new device” and scan the QR code with the app.

There is no Android version yet.

Do I need the cloud?

No. Space System runs entirely locally. Put your folder in iCloud Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive and it syncs via their service — you decide, not us.

What does it cost?

Nothing during the open beta: you get a full yearly licence for free, unlocking all features on up to three devices. That licence stays valid until it expires — even if Space System starts charging in the meantime, you pay nothing until then. After that, the regular price is €29 a year as of today, including all features and updates.

Why does a local app cost a subscription?

Because one person builds, signs and supports it continuously. The subscription funds updates and further development. Your notes and tasks stay with you as open files, even without an active subscription.

What happens if I let the subscription lapse?

Your files always stay openly readable in your folder — with any editor, subscription or not. In Space System itself you get a 14-day grace period after expiry, during which everything keeps working normally. After that the app switches to read-only: you can still open, search and read everything — you create new notes and tasks again as soon as you renew. Nothing is locked away or deleted.

Do I get the licence key immediately?

Yes. Right after you submit, your key appears on the page and also arrives by email. No waiting.

Which platforms are supported?

macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows 10 and 11. Both are signed and come with built-in auto-update. The keyboard shortcuts work on both — on Windows, Ctrl takes the place of .

Does the app collect data about me?

No. Zero telemetry, no tracking, no background analysis. There is no built-in AI either — nothing you write leaves your computer. The app only reaches out to check for updates and to verify your licence; your notes are never part of that.

Can I get my data back later?

Anytime — they're your files. No export needed, no lock-in. Uninstall Space System and all your notes remain, and your normal backup (Time Machine, cloud sync …) has them covered anyway.

Outlook

Space System is growing — week by week. Look forward to many more improvements, and come back soon.