Download and open
One download. Open it and it's ready.
ButterKnifeChat with the models you already run.
Open it, pick a model, start talking. Your chats stay on your machine. Nothing leaves the house.
Public alpha. Free for personal use. No account, nothing to set up. Source on GitHub.
How it works
Pick a model
It finds the models on your network. Pick one and go.
Talk
Ask anything. Show it a picture, hand it a PDF, take the conversation wherever it goes.
Take it to the couch
Scan a QR code and the same chats are on your phone.
What you get
Works with what you have
Ollama, LM Studio, and anything else you already run.
Personas
Give the model a personality. Pick one that's ready, or write your own.
Pictures and files
Show it a photo, hand it a PDF, or ask for a picture and watch one appear.
Made for long chats
A good conversation never hits a wall. Older turns are tidied up for you.
Show your work
See the model's reasoning when you want it. Code, maths and diagrams come out looking right.
Yours to keep
Your chats are yours. Back them up, export them, take them to a new computer.
Questions
What do I need?
A Mac (Apple Silicon or Intel), Windows or Linux computer, and a model server somewhere on your network. Ollama or LM Studio on the same machine is the easiest start. No account, no Docker, no Python.
Which servers does it work with?
Ollama and LM Studio out of the box, plus anything with an OpenAI-style API: vLLM, llama.cpp server, text-generation-webui, LocalAI. For voice input it talks to whisper.cpp, Speaches, faster-whisper-server and LocalAI. Claude works too, with an Anthropic API key.
Is it private?
Yes. Chats, images and settings live in a single file on the machine running ButterKnife, and the only things it talks to are the model servers you added. No account, no telemetry. The one outside request is an optional check for a newer version, which you can switch off.
Can I use it from my phone?
Yes, on the same Wi‑Fi. Turn on network access in Settings and press Open on phone in any chat for a QR code. Set a PIN so only people who know it can open your chats.
Can it make pictures?
With Crayon Cloud running on a Mac. Type /image a lighthouse at dusk in a chat and the picture lands in the conversation.
What does it cost, and what's the licence?
Nothing. Free for personal use, hobby projects, education and non-profits under the PolyForm Noncommercial License. Commercial use needs a word with me first.
Your models are waiting.
Download ButterKnife and you're chatting in a minute.