Onit – Source-available ChatGPT Desktop with local mode, Claude, Gemini
Hey Hackernews- it’s Tim Lenardo and I’m launching v1 of Onit today! Onit is ChatGPT Desktop, but with local mode and support for other model providers (Anthropic, GoogleAI, etc). It's also like Cursor Chat, but everywhere on your computer - not just in your IDE! Onit is open-source! You can download a pre-built version from our website: www.getonit.ai Or build directly from the source code: https://github.com/synth-inc/onit We built this because we believe: Universal Access: AI assistants should be accessible from anywhere on my computer, not just in the browser or in…
Onit – Source-available ChatGPT Desktop with local mode, Claude, Gemini launched on January 24, 2025 with 174 votes, #229 of 6,142 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 1 year on.
In plain words
Onit is a desktop application that brings AI chat capabilities to any part of a user's computer, supporting multiple model providers including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. It offers a local mode for processing data privately without uploading to external servers, and works across applications rather than being confined to a browser or IDE. The software is open-source and available as a pre-built download or buildable from source code, giving users choice in both their AI provider and how they deploy the tool.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Onit MacOS client. Contribute to synth-inc/onit development by creating an account on GitHub.
_NOTE: This project does not contain the code for Onit Dictate or Onit QuickEdit ! Those projects live in a separate repository. Dictate is not open source! Onit SideKick is an AI chat sidebar that can dock to any app on your Mac! It's like Cursor Chat, but for every other app on your computer - not just in your IDE. ⚡️ Highlight Text → Open Onit: Onit opens with your selected text ready to use.- Onit is released under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial license. We believe in: V2 offers a simple subscription that provides users with access to all the model providers we support through a single, low monthly fee. Details are here . If you'd prefer not to use our subscription, you can still…from github.com
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hey Hackernews- it’s Tim Lenardo and I’m launching v1 of Onit today! Onit is ChatGPT Desktop, but with local mode and support for other model providers (Anthropic, GoogleAI, etc). It's also like Cursor Chat, but everywhere on your computer - not just in your IDE! Onit is open-source! You can download a pre-built…
Does a similar job
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TabGPT - Ask Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude at the Same Time in Chrome2024 · franz101.substack.com · ▲31Have you ever found yourself toggling between different language models, trying to figure out which one gives the best answers to your complex questions? Trust me, I've been there.
AI Prompt BuilderMar 2026 · understandingai.net · ▲24Free master prompts for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & more
Instant access to ChatGPT on any Mac app2023 · atua.app · ▲12Access AI models instantly from anywhere on your Mac. Select text, press a shortcut, and get AI-powered help without switching apps.
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