Vane (formerly Perplexica)
Free open-source Perplexity alternative that runs on your computer.
Best on your computerFreeOpenRuns on your PC
- Best for
- Private AI search at home
- On your PC
- Technical
- Works on
- Windows, Mac, Linux
- License
- MIT
What’s good
- Your searches stay on your machine
- Works with local models through Ollama
- Cites sources like Perplexity
Downsides
- Needs Docker, a technical install
- Small local models give weaker answers than Perplexity
At a glance.
- Best for
- Private AI search at home
- Price
- Free, open source
- Works on
- Windows, Mac, Linux
- Open source
- Yes, MIT
- Made by
- ItzCrazyKns (open-source community)
- Website
- github.com
Should you use it?
Yes: it is our best on your computer pick for ai search. Open source; the AI runs on your computer with Ollama.
Can I run it myself?
Yes. Technical: command line or python.
Use Docker plus Ollama.
- You need
- Any 8 GB laptop with a small 8B model; faster with a GPU
- Setup
- TechnicalCommand line or Python
- Laptop, 8 GBRuns
- PC, 16 GB+Runs
- Mac, 16 GBRuns
- Mac, 32 GBRuns
- Mac, 64 GB+Runs
- PC, 8 GB GPURuns
- PC, 12 GB GPURuns
- PC, 16 GB GPURuns
- PC, 24 GB GPURuns
- WorkstationRuns