Desktop app

The self-hosted frontend the power users all run

If you want total control and zero subscription, this is where the advanced users live.

Run large language models locally with one command

The de-facto local model runtime: one command to run open models, free and open-source.

Memory, voice mode and the strongest general model

Not built as a companion, but its memory and voice mode make it a legitimate daily chat partner.

Free character chat that runs locally or in the cloud

The most generous free tier in the category: unlimited chat on locally run models, 600 cloud messages a day, no card required.

Desktop app to discover, download and chat with local LLMs

The easiest way to run open models on your own machine: no data leaves your laptop.

miHoYo's free desktop AI companion blending letter chat, music generation and a live wallpaper

A free, polished ambient companion from the Genshin studio: piano performances, MIDI-to-music-video generation and pen-pal letters.

Desktop and mobile client for many AI models in one app

A tidy multi-model client: one app for OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, local models and more, with your keys.

Open-source ChatGPT alternative that runs fully offline

A clean local assistant: open-source, offline-first, with an OpenAI-compatible API server built in.

Open-source chat UI with a community agent marketplace

A serious open-source option: self-host it, plug in any model, and browse community personas — more assistant than romantic partner.

On-device AI chat with your documents, local or cloud models

Document-grounded private AI: chat with your files on desktop, connect local or hosted models.

The most careful conversational partner of the big models

Best for nuanced, long-form conversation; it will decline romantic roleplay firmly.

A screen-aware gaming companion that plays along with you

A gaming-focused companion that reads your screen and roleplays along, with voice, Live2D-style visuals and a Romantic mode on higher tiers.

Private AI desktop for local and online models

A slick local AI hub: run Ollama models, branch conversations and compare side by side, fully private.

The veteran local-model front end, now a no-install desktop app

Formerly text-generation-webui: not a companion app, but the plumbing most local companion setups are built on.

Browser-based character chat with card importing

A lighter alternative to SillyTavern that runs in a browser tab with no install.

A polished desktop app for local companions

The easiest way to run a local companion without touching a terminal.

Customisable companions with voice cloning and screen awareness

A flexible companion builder: 2D/3D avatars, voice cloning, long memory and screen sharing, with an optional NSFW toggle.

The original open-source tavern frontend for character roleplay

The grandfather of the tavern scene, now at version 2: free, open-source, plug in any model and any card.

Local characters with personality settings built in

Free, offline and surprisingly good at persona consistency for a local app.

Local story generation with no cloud dependency

The classic offline story engine: clunky, but it never phones home.