AI Agent

Hearth

Local-first AI operator that controls your Windows PC, files, shell, apps, browser, and desktop, with voice and memory, all on your machine.

What is Hearth?

Hearth is an open-source, local-first AI agent that runs on your computer, controlling applications, files, browser, and desktop, with voice interaction and persistent memory.

Hearth vs Similar AI Tools

Pricing ModelFreeFree, FreemiumFreeFree
Free Credits
Key Features
  • File read/write/edit with support for PDF, DOCX, XLSX, etc.
  • Shell command execution (PowerShell/cmd)
  • Browser control (Chrome, Brave, Edge) with click and type
  • Multi-agent workflow with verification and self-healing
  • 50+ AI models auto-routed per agent
  • 1000+ OAuth2 app integrations
  • Seven breakable boxes covering OWASP Agentic Top-10 vulnerabilities
  • Three guided simulations for cascading failures, human-agent trust, and rogue agents
  • Network-isolated Docker containers for safe execution
  • Code-to-runtime reasoning across cloud, Git, and Kubernetes
  • Action-gate enforces read-only policy on every API call
  • Sandboxed JavaScript execution for concurrent research
Pros
  • Fully local and private – no cloud or telemetry
  • Open source and extensible with plugins and skills
  • Replaces 10+ separate tools with one platform
  • Multi-agent orchestration saves time and context switching
  • Covers full OWASP Agentic Top-10 in a realistic manner
  • Docker isolation prevents accidental damage
  • Read-only by construction prevents accidental writes
  • Evidence-backed verification cross-checks every finding
Cons
  • Primarily Windows-native; macOS/Linux support is limited
  • Requires local LLM setup (about 8GB VRAM recommended)
  • Free tier limited to 5,000 credits per month
  • May have a learning curve for complex workflows
  • Requires Docker and technical setup
  • Not for production use; only for lab environments
  • Requires an LLM API key, incurring token costs
  • Limited to read-only operations, cannot remediate
Best For
  • Privacy-conscious users wanting a local AI computer assistant
  • Developers needing an AI agent with file and shell access
  • Marketing teams
  • Content creators
  • Security researchers focusing on AI agent vulnerabilities
  • Developers building MCP-based applications
  • Security engineers
  • DevOps teams

How to use Hearth?

  1. 1Download the installer from GitHub releases (Windows only) or install from source with Python 3.11+.
  2. 2Launch the desktop app or CLI.
  3. 3Select a local model (e.g., via bundled llama.cpp, LM Studio, or Ollama).
  4. 4Start giving commands via text or voice.

Hearth Key Features

  • File read/write/edit with support for PDF, DOCX, XLSX, etc.
  • Shell command execution (PowerShell/cmd)
  • Browser control (Chrome, Brave, Edge) with click and type
  • Desktop control via accessibility snapshots and mouse/keyboard actions
  • Voice input (speech-to-text) and output (text-to-speech)
  • Persistent memory with automatic curation
  • Skills: shareable workflows installable from GitHub
  • Sub-agents for parallel tasks
  • MCP server support (both hosting and consuming)
  • Plugin system for custom tools

Hearth Use Cases

  • Personal AI assistant for daily computer tasks
  • Automated file organization and document processing
  • Web research and multi-step browser workflows
  • Coding assistance with shell and file access
  • Voice-controlled desktop automation

Hearth Pricing & Free Credits

Hearth currently operates on a Free model.

This tool is completely free to use

Free

$0

Open source under MIT license, no premium tiers.

Hearth Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Fully local and private – no cloud or telemetry
  • Open source and extensible with plugins and skills
  • Controls real desktop and browser, not just chat
  • Voice input and output for hands-free use
  • Persistent memory that spans sessions

Cons

  • Primarily Windows-native; macOS/Linux support is limited
  • Requires local LLM setup (about 8GB VRAM recommended)
  • Small models may struggle with complex multi-step tasks
  • Bundled installer is large (~1GB for full edition)

What is Hearth best for?

  • Privacy-conscious users wanting a local AI computer assistant
  • Developers needing an AI agent with file and shell access
  • Power users who want to automate repetitive desktop tasks

Hearth FAQ

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