Questions & answers
The honest FAQ.
No fine print, no spin. Here's what people ask most.
Is Hearth really free?
Yes — completely, and forever. It runs on your own computer, so there's nothing for us to bill you for. No subscription, no credit card, no “free trial” that ends.
Is it actually private?
Yes, by design. The AI runs on your device, so your conversations are never sent to us or anyone else. There's no server in the middle that could read them.
Can you see my conversations?
No — we can't. The model lives on your machine, so there is literally nothing on our end that could read what you type. We don't want your data; the whole point is that it stays with you.
What do I need to run it?
A reasonably modern computer and the Chrome or Edge browser for the instant, no-install version. The first time you open it, it downloads the AI once (about a gigabyte). After that it loads quickly.
Why is the download about a gigabyte?
Because you're bringing the whole AI “brain” onto your computer, once — instead of borrowing it over the internet every time you ask something. It's like downloading a movie to watch on a flight instead of streaming it: the first download is big, but after that it's instant and works anywhere, even offline. And it only happens once — it stays on your computer for next time.
Why does it work best in Chrome or Edge?
To think quickly, Hearth uses your computer's graphics chip — the same part that makes games and videos look smooth. Right now, Chrome and Edge are the browsers that let a website use it. Safari and Firefox are adding it soon. For the smoothest experience today, open Hearth in Chrome or Edge.
Does it work offline?
Yes — after that first download. On a plane, in a cabin, with the wifi switched off, Hearth keeps right on working.
Do I need to make an account?
Nope. You open it and start talking. No sign-up, no login, no email required.
Can it look at my photos?
Yes. You can attach an image and ask about it, and that runs privately on your device too — the picture never leaves your computer.
Is this a competitor to ChatGPT or Gemini?
No — and that's on purpose. ChatGPT and Gemini run on enormous data centers. Hearth runs on your computer, which makes it a different, simpler thing: fast, free, and completely private. It's wonderful for recipes, everyday questions, explaining something tricky, writing and rewriting, and brainstorming. It won't build you a whole website or tackle huge, complex projects — for that, the big cloud tools are still the right call. A more powerful Hearth desktop app, with bigger models, is on the way.
So what's the catch?
There isn't one. Hearth is a passion project, built because it should exist. It's open source, so you can read every line of it yourself.
Who made this?
Kevin Champlin, an AI engineer. You can find more of his work at kevinchamplin.com, or just say hello.