Apfel – The free AI already on your Mac

In plain words

Apfel is a free AI tool that runs locally on Mac computers. It provides AI capabilities without requiring external services or subscriptions, operating entirely on the user's device. The software is designed for Mac users who want to access AI features while maintaining privacy and avoiding cloud dependencies. Apfel is open-source and available through GitHub, making it accessible to both general users and developers interested in local AI implementation.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

From the sources

Your Mac already has AI. Apple ships a language model with macOS -apfel unlocks it with one brew install. No downloads, no API keys, no config. The fastest path to local AI.

macOS Tahoe ships with a 3B parameter LLM. apfel gives you CLI access with one brew install. No model downloads, no API keys, no configuration needed, just works. Everything runs on your device. No network calls. No data leaves your Mac. From brew install to AI output in 12 seconds. No configuration required. Other local AI tools are great but require model downloads and configuration. apfel needs nothing - the model is already on your Mac. One brew install. You're done. A CLI, an OpenAI-compatible server, and an interactive chat. All from a single brew install. No extra downloads. Pipe-friendly and composable. Works with jq, xargs, and your shell scripts. stdin, stdout, JSON output, file…from apfel.franzai.com

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