Rowboat
Open-source AI coworker for desktop that indexes your work into a living knowledge graph and provides built-in surfaces for email, meetings, browsing, and coding.
Rowboat
What is Rowboat?
Rowboat vs Similar AI Tools
| Pricing Model | Free | Free, Freemium | Free, Freemium | Free, Freemium |
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How to use Rowboat?
- 1Download and install Rowboat for Mac, Windows, or Linux from the official website.
- 2Optionally connect Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Drive) by following the Google setup guide.
- 3For voice input, add a Deepgram API key; for voice output, add an ElevenLabs API key.
- 4Configure web search by adding an Exa API key if desired.
- 5Add API keys for external tools (MCP, Composio) to enable additional integrations.
- 6Start using the built-in surfaces: email, browser, meeting notes, code mode, and background agents.
Rowboat Key Features
- Knowledge graph with backlinks that accumulates context over time
- Built-in email client with AI drafting using full work context
- Background agents that run on events or schedules
- Isolated built-in browser for collaborative web tasks
- Local meeting note taker with live transcription and summary
- Code mode with parallel coding agents (Claude Code, Codex)
- Customizable apps as work surfaces
- One-click integrations with popular services
- Support for local models (Ollama, LM Studio) and hosted models
- MCP tool integration for extending capabilities
- Local-first storage as plain Markdown
Rowboat Use Cases
- Automate drafting and prioritizing email responses
- Take meeting notes and update knowledge graph automatically
- Set up background agents to perform recurring tasks like daily summaries or web research
- Collaborate with AI on coding projects using full work context
- Build custom work surfaces and share them with teams
Rowboat Pricing & Free Credits
Rowboat currently operates on a Free model.
This tool is completely free to use
Rowboat Pros & Cons
Pros
- Local-first: all data stored as plain Markdown, no vendor lock-in
- Persistent knowledge graph that compounds over time
- Open-source and extensible via MCP
- Bring your own model (local or hosted)
- Integrated work surfaces improve workflow
Cons
- Requires API keys for optional features (voice, web search, external tools)
- Setup can be complex for non-technical users
- Backlog of integrations may still be limited
What is Rowboat best for?
- Developers and knowledge workers who want an AI assistant with persistent context
- Teams looking for a local-first, open-source AI copilot
- Users who prefer to own their data and avoid cloud dependencies
Rowboat FAQ
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