Where Can I Download Local AI Tools for Offline Use?

September 21, 2026 · By Michel Valenzuela, Founder of Daryl

You can download local AI tools from their official websites, including LM Studio, Jan, and Ollama. To use them offline, you also need a compatible model installed on your computer and the application configured to use it.

Daryl is currently in pre-launch. Its website offers a launch signup, rather than a public application download.

Here is how to find the right download and prepare for offline use.

Where are the official download sources?

Start with the developer’s own website:

Download availability, supported systems, and installation requirements can change. Review the current instructions on the official site before installing.

If you follow a link to a separate distribution service, confirm that the developer identifies it as an authorised source.

Is downloading the application enough?

Usually, you also need model files.

The application provides the environment for interacting with AI. The model provides the capabilities used to generate responses.

Some applications guide you through a model download during setup. Others let you select from several models or import compatible files.

Check the model’s download size and resource requirements. A model appearing in an application’s catalogue does not mean your computer can run it comfortably.

Complete the required downloads while you have a reliable connection.

How do I choose a model for offline use?

Begin with your intended task and the application’s guidance.

For everyday conversation, look for a compatible model intended for that purpose. Coding, image generation, and speech recognition involve different requirements.

If you are new to local AI, start with a recommended model that fits your hardware. Confirm that the basic experience works before exploring more configurations.

A larger model is not automatically the most practical choice. Available memory, response speed, and the quality of its answers on your actual tasks all matter.

How do I make sure I selected a local model?

Check the model provider and processing mode.

Some applications offer local models alongside cloud services. Both can appear within the same interface.

For offline use, select an installed local model. Review any settings for remote providers, web search, or connected tools.

Ollama also documents a local-only configuration that disables its cloud features. If that is your objective, follow the official instructions for your installation.

An application installed on your computer can still use remote processing. The selected configuration determines the workflow.

Can I download an AI tool once and use it without internet access?

Supported local features can work offline after installation, provided their required resources are available.

You may still need a connection for updates, additional models, activation, or particular licensing checks, depending on the product.

Online searches and remote accounts also require connectivity.

Before travelling or working somewhere disconnected, test the complete workflow you intend to use.

• Finish installing the application and models.
• Select local processing.
• Disconnect from the network.
• Start a new conversation and request a response.
• Close and reopen the application.
• Test any additional feature you plan to rely on.

This establishes whether those tasks work under the conditions you tested.

Where should I download models?

Use the application’s documented download process or model sources it explicitly supports.

Check compatibility before downloading a file independently. Model formats, supported architectures, and licensing terms vary.

If you plan to use a model in commercial work or distribute it as part of another product, review its licence separately from the application’s licence.

For a straightforward personal setup, the built-in model selection process may be the easiest place to begin.

Does offline text chat include offline voice?

Not necessarily.

Voice interaction requires speech recognition and, for spoken responses, audio generation or playback resources.

Those components may have separate downloads and processing arrangements.

Check whether your chosen application supports the complete voice workflow offline, including your intended language.

Test it separately from typing.

Is there a Daryl download available?

Daryl is currently in pre-launch.

I’m building it as a personal AI for Mac, designed around local conversation and support for decisions through voice and typing.

The release will need clear instructions covering supported hardware, installation, model resources, permissions, and connectivity requirements.

Until a public download is announced, the appropriate starting point is the launch signup on the official Daryl website.

Start with the experience you need

Downloading local AI software is the beginning of setup.

The useful outcome is an application that handles your intended work on your computer, with processing and information practices you understand.

Choose a tool that fits the task. Install a suitable model. Verify the local configuration. Test the workflow before depending on it.

That is the path I want to make approachable with Daryl: from installation to a useful personal conversation.