Overview

ChatWise is a high-performance native desktop AI client for macOS and Windows that provides a unified interface for interacting with multiple large language models. Built on the Rust-based Tauri framework for exceptional speed, ChatWise positions itself as the 'second fastest AI chatbot' with a strong emphasis on privacy through local-first data storage. Supporting GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, and other models via a Bring Your Own API Key model, ChatWise's killer feature is its Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration—an open standard that allows AI to interact with external tools like Git repositories, Google Sheets, Notion, and file systems. With multi-modal capabilities, web search, artifacts rendering, and auxiliary model support, ChatWise serves developers and power users who demand API control, privacy, and extensibility.

Pricing: Free (basic features) | Pro: $29 one-time (discounted from $49) | 7-day trial + 1 year of updates

Minimum macOS: 11.0 (Big Sur)

Architecture: Apple Silicon, Intel

AI Features

Key Features

• Universal LLM support via BYOK - connect to OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), Google (Gemini), DeepSeek, Llama, OpenRouter, and Ollama
• Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration - open standard for AI to use external tools and services
• Connect AI to Git repositories, Google Sheets, Notion, file systems, and browsers via MCP servers
• Built on Rust-based Tauri framework with 'Tauri Channels' for ultra-fast streaming responses
• Local-first architecture - all chat history, API keys, and configurations stored on your device
• Multi-modal support - drag-and-drop PDFs, images, and audio files directly into conversations
• Integrated web search powered by Tavily API or local browser - included for free
• Artifacts support - render HTML, React components, charts, and documents within chat
• Auxiliary model system - configure secondary models to assist primary ones (e.g., visual model for image descriptions)
• Custom assistants with unlimited configurations (Pro feature)
• Chat history search across all conversations (Pro feature)
• Text-to-speech via ListenHub provider with Chinese voice support
• Document chat - analyze PDFs and files with native processing
• Support for existing AI subscriptions (GitHub Copilot, Claude Pro/Max integration)
• Automatic retry for network errors with robust error handling
• One-off MCP server execution using '@' symbol syntax
• Side-by-side comparison and editing of AI responses
• Custom SVG icons for assistants and personalization
• Export MCP tool results as JSON files for analysis
• Minimalist UI hiding powerful features for clean user experience
• One-time payment model with lifetime access to purchased version
• 7-day free trial for Pro tier with no credit card required
• One year of pro feature updates included with purchase
• Priority support for Pro users
• Frequent updates with active development cycle (multiple releases weekly)
• Desktop-native performance avoiding web interface latency
• Full API cost control - only pay for tokens you use with your own keys
• Privacy-focused design - no server-side data storage or telemetry

Links

• Official Website