openfolksMeet OpenFolks
A desktop app for working with a team of AI agents. Create folks, give each one a model, a folder and a computer, then assign work and review the results in one window.
Free and open source under the MIT License. Windows, macOS and Linux.
Message folks like teammates
Write a task the way you would to a colleague. The folk works on it, shows what it is doing, and comes back when it needs your approval or has finished.
How folks workWork with several folks at once
Add a folk for each job: one for a project, one for outreach, one for infrastructure. They run at the same time and you see each folk’s progress in the sidebar.
Choose where each folk works
Use your own computer, an isolated virtual machine, or a cloud computer. You can watch a folk work and take over at any point.
ComputersRun work on a schedule
Set a task to run once, on weekdays, or when a webhook arrives. Each run keeps a receipt so you can see what happened.
RoutinesFolks keep notes
A folk saves what it learns about how you work. The notes are plain text that you can read, edit or delete.
MemoryFolks can hand work to each other
Put several folks in one room and they pass tasks between themselves. You can follow the thread and step in.
Rooms and handoffsStart from a crew
A crew is a small team that is ready to use. Install one from the Marketplace, point it at a folder, and every member shares that workspace.
Research, draft, and polish publish-ready content with a small editorial crew.
Install from Marketplace → Content Studio in the app.
Your data stays on your machine
Local first
Conversations, settings and files are stored on your computer. The app does not need an account to run.
Your model access
Folks run the agent tools you already use, such as Claude and Codex, with your own sign-in or API key.
Open source
The code is under the MIT License. You can read it, build it yourself, and report problems in public.
Read the privacy policy and the security overview.
Download OpenFolks
Installers for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu. Each release lists checksums so you can verify the file.
First launch. The installers are not signed with a paid certificate, so your system asks you to confirm once.
SmartScreen: choose More info, then Run anyway.
After copying to Applications, run once:
xattr -cr /Applications/OpenFolks.appInstall the .deb package:
sudo apt install ./OpenFolks-amd64.debQuestions
How is this different from a chat assistant?
A folk has a role, notes it keeps between tasks, and a computer to work on. It can use tools, run alongside other folks, and be scheduled, so you hand off a job instead of pasting prompts one at a time.
What does it cost?
OpenFolks is free under the MIT License. You use your own model access, such as a Claude or Codex subscription or an API key, and those providers charge for their own usage.
Where is my data stored?
On your computer, in ~/.openfolks. You can change the location with OPENFOLKS_DATA_DIR. Content leaves the machine only when you send it to a model provider or a connected app. The privacy page lists everything the app sends.
Can a folk control my computer?
Only if you turn it on, for the folks you choose, on supported systems. Folks can instead work in an isolated Local VM or on a cloud computer.
Why does my system warn me when I install it?
The installers are not signed with a paid Apple or Microsoft certificate. The download page explains the one-time steps for each system and how to check the file.
Which systems are supported?
Windows 10 and 11 (x64), macOS on Apple silicon and Intel, and Ubuntu 24.04 (x64). There is no mobile app.
Try it on your own machine
Install OpenFolks, create a folk, and give it a first task.