Ollama
The simplest app for a local chatbot. Pick a model, then talk.
Installer only · One-click app · Free
Help me write code
An offline coding assistant in your editor.
The tools below run on your computer. Most of them are free, and the local work stays on your machine.
Works offline · Free options
Your computer
Describe your computer
Pick the closest line. Office PC and Mini PC are estimates. Linux and a home server stay in the list. We guess the specs, then hide models that would not fit. The guess stays cautious.
5 results
Most tools here are free.
Code & Tech Not on the chat board
The one that fits more computers
Runs in:Fits on:· needs ~4.7 GB · Free to download · License: Apache 2.0
Code & Tech Not on the chat board
A fast coding model. The file is large, and each reply only reads a slice, so it feels quicker than a dense 30B.
Runs in:Fits on:· needs ~19 GB · Free to download · License: Apache 2.0
Code & Tech 86% of ChatGPT level
The well-known local coding model from 2025. Still useful, and no longer the top of the local pile.
Runs in:Fits on:· needs ~20 GB · Free to download · License: Apache 2.0
HONEST COMPARISON
Local or cloud: Help me write code?
Reviewed Oct 2026
- Privacy: Local winsPrivate code need not be uploaded
- Cost: Local winsNo monthly seat
- Quality: Cloud winsHosted coding tools are ahead on hard changes
- Ease: Cloud winsThey sit inside the editor
Local AI
A local coding model can write and edit code in a private repository.
- The repository stays on your machine
- Qwen Coder is a real coding model
- No seat fee
Where it falls short
- Weaker than Copilot or Claude on large projects
- It does not see the whole company codebase unless you set that up
Cloud & apps
Copilot, Cursor and Claude are ahead on hard code, and they see the files you open.
- CClaudeCloud AIFreemium
Strong at reading a large file and proposing a change.
Best for: Large edits
The code is uploaded
- CCursorDesktop appFreemium
An editor that applies multi-file edits, with a cloud model behind it.
Best for: Multi-file edits
Code you send is processed by the model provider
- GGitHub CopilotAppPaidPopular choice
Completions inside the editor, trained and hosted by GitHub.
Best for: Editor completions
Snippets are sent to GitHub
Our take
Write private code locally. Use Copilot or Claude when the repository can be shared and the change is hard.
Choose local if…
- The repository is private
- The change is small
Choose cloud if…
- You want editor completions
- The change spans many files
How to do it in 3 steps
- Open the model page and pick any app under Runs in, for example AnythingLLM, GPT4All or Jan. Each app page links to that maker's own guide.
- Open the Qwen2.5-Coder 7B page and check the traffic light for a few kinds of computer.
- Follow that official guide. This site does not add its own install steps.
Questions
- Does this upload my files?
- The local tools on this page don't upload your files. The cloud options in the comparison do.
- What does it cost?
- Most options are free. A few apps are a one-time purchase, and a few models need a computer with more memory.
- What if it will not fit?
- Use Check my computer, or turn on the lighter memory filters. A red light on the model page means the file is too big.
Not into local AI? Try these instead
Ordinary apps for code & tech. These are normal links to the maker's site.