RecurseChat

RecurseChat is the definitive local-first AI application designed for macOS, seamlessly integrating private, offline large language model (LLM) interaction with powerful client capabilities for services like ChatGPT and Claude. It addresses the critical need for both robust data privacy and high-performance, flexible AI access, making sophisticated AI readily available and highly customizable for users ranging from beginners to advanced professionals.

Key Features

RecurseChat is engineered to maximize efficiency and control, allowing you to leverage the best of both local and cloud-based AI in one unified, zero-config environment.

📄 Offline Document Analysis (Local RAG)

Chat directly with PDF, Markdown, and text files completely offline, privately, and remarkably fast. RecurseChat simplifies Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) by utilizing a local embedding model and vector database, meaning your sensitive documents never need to be uploaded to the cloud. You gain instant, private context from your data without compromising security.

💻 Zero-Configuration Local LLM Access

Start chatting with powerful local AI models—including Meta Llama 3.1, Gemma 2, and Mistral—instantly upon installation. RecurseChat eliminates complex setup and configuration hassles, providing a true "local-first" experience that operates offline by default, ensuring immediate access and maximum data privacy.

🔄 Multi-Model Conversation Management

Seamlessly switch between different AI models (local LLMs, ChatGPT, Claude, custom endpoints) within the same chat session. This allows you to leverage the unique strengths of specialized models for different parts of a complex query, compare responses instantly, and get alternative perspectives without starting a new thread.

💾 Data Ownership and History Import

Maintain complete control over your data. RecurseChat runs inside the secure macOS App Sandbox and collects zero usage or telemetry data. Furthermore, you can easily import your existing ChatGPT history, keeping all your AI interactions searchable and organized in one place, and even continue those imported chats using a local AI model.

✏️ Advanced Message Editing and Branching

Go beyond simple retries. RecurseChat allows you to freely edit messages and create new branches from any point in the conversation history. This powerful feature is essential for prompt engineering, testing different conversational paths, and refining complex outputs without losing the original context.

Use Cases

RecurseChat is built to enhance productivity across diverse professional and academic domains through its unique blend of features.

• Secure Research and Analysis: Professionals handling confidential documents can use the Offline Document Chat (Local RAG) feature to analyze internal reports, contracts, or sensitive research papers. Since the data and processing remain entirely on your local machine, you maintain strict compliance and privacy standards while gaining rapid, context-aware insights.

• STEM Education and Design: Students, educators, and engineers can utilize the integrated LaTeX rendering capability. When the AI generates mathematical formulas, equations, or complex scientific notation, RecurseChat automatically renders them as beautifully formatted expressions, making it ideal for discussing physics, calculus, or advanced engineering concepts.

• Prompt Optimization and Model Comparison: As an advanced user, you can employ the Multi-Model Input and Message Branching features to fine-tune prompts. Send the same query to Llama 3.1 and GPT-4 in the same thread, compare the results, and then use the branching feature to refine the prompt for the best-performing model, dramatically accelerating iterative testing.

Why Choose RecurseChat?

RecurseChat is designed not just as another AI client, but as a comprehensive, high-performance platform that prioritizes user control and privacy without sacrificing power.

• Unwavering Privacy and Security: Secured by the mandatory macOS App Sandbox, RecurseChat ensures unauthorized access is blocked. We do not collect any usage or telemetry data, guaranteeing that your conversations and documents remain private and entirely under your control.

• Blazing Fast Search and Retrieval: Even with thousands of conversations, the powerful Full Text Search capabilities deliver results instantly. This performance extends to local RAG, where the retrieval and response are remarkably fast due to the fully local embedding model and vector database.

• Designed for the Mac Ecosystem: Optimized specifically for Mac with Apple Silicon, RecurseChat offers a zero-config setup and high-performance inference. Its Floating Chat feature, accessible via ⌘ + ⇧ + Enter, allows you to interact with AI instantly from any application, making it an indispensable productivity tool integrated directly into your workflow.

Conclusion

RecurseChat delivers unparalleled control and versatility, whether you require absolute privacy for sensitive, offline work or the flexibility to seamlessly manage and compare results from multiple cloud models. It provides the depth and features power users demand, packaged in an interface simple enough for beginners.

Explore how RecurseChat can redefine your AI workflow and put true intelligence back in your hands.