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.
Hearth
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 Model | Free | Free | Free, Free Trial | Free, Paid |
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How to use Hearth?
- 1Download the installer from GitHub releases (Windows only) or install from source with Python 3.11+.
- 2Launch the desktop app or CLI.
- 3Select a local model (e.g., via bundled llama.cpp, LM Studio, or Ollama).
- 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
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