GNO vs GPT4All
Verdict: GPT4All is a desktop LLM chat app with LocalDocs; GNO is a search-first CLI tool. Different focus areas.
GPT4All is one of the most popular ways to run local LLMs. It focuses on providing an easy desktop chat experience with optional document context via LocalDocs. GNO focuses on document search and retrieval, with LLMs used for reranking and RAG answers.
Get Started
# 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 | ✓ | ✗ |
| Desktop App | ✗ | ✓ |
| Model Library | 3 presets | Thousands of models |
| GPU Support | CPU only | ✓ Vulkan (NVIDIA/AMD) |
| File Formats | MD, PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, TXT | PDF, DOCX, TXT, MD, RST |
| License | MIT | MIT |
GNO Advantages
Hybrid search: Combines BM25 keyword search with vector semantic search for better results.
gno query "authentication middleware" --mode hybrid
Cross-encoder reranking: Reranks results using a cross-encoder model for higher precision.
gno query "how to configure oauth" --rerank
MCP for AI assistants: Let Claude, Cursor, or other AI tools search your documents.
gno mcp install --target claude
# Now Claude can search your indexed documents
CLI-first design: Script searches, pipe to other tools, integrate into workflows.
gno query "database migrations" --format json | jq '.results[].path'
Multiple collections: Manage separate indexes for different projects.
gno init ~/work --name work
gno init ~/personal --name personal
gno query "meeting notes" --collection work
More file formats: Index Excel (XLSX) and PowerPoint (PPTX) files.
GPT4All Advantages
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:
# 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