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Lakr233/FlowDown

A native AI chat client for iPhone, iPad and Mac that connects to cloud, self-hosted and on-device models.

Open-source alternative to:ChatGPT

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What is it?

FlowDown is a chat app for Apple platforms that lets you talk to a range of AI models from one interface. It supports Apple Intelligence where available, local MLX models that run on the device, and OpenAI-compatible or self-hosted providers such as Ollama, LM Studio and LocalAI.

The app is built with Swift and UIKit and focuses on privacy: the developers state that they collect no personal information or usage data, and that conversations and configurations stay on the device or in the user's private iCloud. The source code is published under AGPL-3.0 for auditing, while the FlowDown name, icon and artwork remain proprietary.

Beyond basic chat, FlowDown handles vision and audio inputs, file attachments, web search, reusable prompt templates, Markdown rendering, and iCloud sync. It also integrates with system Shortcuts, can be set as the default translation app, and lets users share model configurations as .fdmodel files.

Key features

  • 01Chat with Apple Intelligence, local MLX models, or OpenAI-compatible and self-hosted providers.
  • 02Supports vision inputs, audio attachments and file attachments.
  • 03Web search lets the model access real-time information from the web.
  • 04Syncs conversations, settings and custom models across devices via iCloud.
  • 05Integrates with system Shortcuts and can serve as the default translation app.
  • 06Imports and exports model configurations as .fdmodel files.

Use cases

  • Using a self-hosted Ollama or LM Studio model from an iPhone or Mac.
  • Chatting with on-device MLX models without sending data to a cloud service.
  • Automating AI tasks by scripting model configuration files and importing them in bulk.
  • Translating text by setting FlowDown as the default translation app.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Download FlowDown from the App Store

  2. 2

    Configure a model: use Apple Intelligence, download a local MLX model, or connect an OpenAI-compatible provider

Things to know

  • Runs only on Apple platforms: iPhone, iPad and Mac.
  • Licensed under AGPL-3.0, a copyleft license; the FlowDown name, icon and artwork are proprietary.
  • You must configure and test each model yourself.
  • Subscription fees apply to future personalization options, and the README says the app is scheduled to become free this year.

Topics

#ai-chat#llm#swift#ios#macos#privacy#mlx#ollama

FAQ

What is FlowDown?
A native AI chat client for iPhone, iPad and Mac that connects to cloud, self-hosted and on-device models. FlowDown is a chat app for Apple platforms that lets you talk to a range of AI models from one interface. It supports Apple Intelligence where available, local MLX models that run on the device, and OpenAI-compatible or self-hosted providers such as Ollama, LM Studio and LocalAI.
Is FlowDown free to use? What license does it have?
FlowDown is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is FlowDown still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to FlowDown was on Oct 17, 2026.
What can I use FlowDown for?
Using a self-hosted Ollama or LM Studio model from an iPhone or Mac. Chatting with on-device MLX models without sending data to a cloud service. Automating AI tasks by scripting model configuration files and importing them in bulk. Translating text by setting FlowDown as the default translation app.
How do I install FlowDown?
Download FlowDown from the App Store Configure a model: use Apple Intelligence, download a local MLX model, or connect an OpenAI-compatible provider
Where can I get FlowDown?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/Lakr233/FlowDown

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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