Chatwise

Overview

ChatWise is a powerful desktop application for macOS and Windows that combines speed, privacy, and flexibility into a single, efficient AI chatbot. It allows you to connect with any large language model, such as GPT-4, Claude, or Gemini, using your own API keys or existing subscriptions. The application supports not only text but also multimedia formats like audio, PDFs, images, and text files, enhancing your interaction capabilities. A core feature of the app is its built-in privacy: all data remains on your device and is never transmitted to a server unless it is strictly necessary for AI queries. With seamless integrations for web search, tool connectivity (via MCP), and artifact rendering (including HTML, React components, and charts), ChatWise streamlines your workflow and keeps your AI-driven productivity flowing.

Key Features

Supports any LLM model: Use GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, and more without being locked in.
Performance-optimized desktop experience: Built for speed and responsiveness on macOS and Windows.
Data stored locally for privacy: All conversations and files remain on your device, ensuring maximum control.
Multi-modal input support: Chat using audio, PDFs, images, text files, and more.
Web search integration: Fetch real-time info via Tavily API or your local browser, free of charge.
Artifact rendering: Display HTML, React, charts, and documents directly in chat.
MCP tool integration: Link AI to Notion, Google Sheets, browsers, and more to supercharge your workflow.
Bring your own API / Existing subscriptions: Use your own AI provider keys or existing subscriptions (such as Claude Pro or GitHub Copilot) to maximise flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

Pros

Unmatched speed and efficiency: Ideal for power users needing a responsive AI interface.
Robust privacy protections: Local data storage ensures that sensitive discussions remain private and confidential.
Highly versatile input handling: Great for multimodal workflows across documents, images, and audio.
Flexible monetization (via chatWise.pro): Content creators can turn knowledge into paid chatbots with 95% revenue share.
Seamless integration and customization: MCP tools and artifact rendering enhance productivity and automation.

Cons

Dependent on external LLM services: You need API access or subscriptions from providers like OpenAI or Anthropic.
Occasionally, limited to APIs with token usage tracking: Some features only function when the LLM provider returns token data.
ChatWiseLimited syncing or mobile support: No mobile apps or cloud sync options currently available.

Use Cases

Developers & researchers: Quickly iterate across models like GPT-4, Gemini, and Claude, and test code or documents with embedded artifact rendering.
Privacy-conscious users: Professionals working with sensitive information can leverage AI without compromising data security.
Content creators & educators: Use multimodal inputs to generate summaries, translations, or engaging lesson content.
Knowledge entrepreneurs: With chatWise.pro, creators can monetize content by turning articles, guides, or notes into chatbots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which platforms does ChatWise support?

ChatWise is available for both macOS and Windows. Use the homepage to download the app.

Can I use my own API keys or subscriptions?

Yes, ChatWise allows both Bring Your Own API Key (for providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) and integration with existing subscriptions such as GitHub Copilot or Claude Pro/Max.

What kind of data does ChatWise store and where?

All your data, including chats, files, and inputs, is stored locally on your device and never leaves it. The only exception is when it's necessary to forward your requests to a selected AI provider.

What types of input does ChatWise support?

ChatWise supports multi-modal inputs, including text, PDFs, images, and audio files.

How does web search work in ChatWise?

ChatWise offers two web search modes:

Native Search: Leveraged by certain models (e.g. Google Gemini, X.AI) and handled by the AI provider directly.
ChatWise Search: A flexible fallback that uses browser scraping (Chrome, Brave, Firefox, Edge, Safari) or API-based search engines like Google Custom Search, Tavily, Brave Search, Jina AI, Exa, or custom endpoints.

What are artifacts, and how are they used?

Artifacts are specialized content outputs, such as interactive charts, React components, HTML, or Markdown documents, that are ideal for complex or reusable content. To enable artifacts, use the toggle or the keyboard shortcut CMD-K, and then use prompts like "generate a chart" to automatically create them. This feature requires capable models, such as GPT-4o mini, DeepSeek v3, or Llama 70B+, and performs best with large context windows.

How do MCP tools work in ChatWise?

MCP integrations enable ChatWise to use external tools via Streamable HTTP MCP servers. You can configure tools in settings, toggle tool usage via the chat interface, and choose which tool to use. OAuth isn’t supported yet.