Local Code Brings a Free No-Account AI Assistant to the Mac
Most no-sign-up AI tools are websites: you open a tab, type a prompt, and close it. Local Code takes the opposite route. It is a free, open-source assistant for Mac that downloads an AI model and runs it on your own computer, so your prompts and files do not have to go to a cloud provider at all. The developers behind Draw Things announced the full release on October 28, 2026, after a public beta that began on September 12, and MacRumors covered the launch on October 30. This is not a hands-on test yet — it is a careful read of the vendor release and that coverage, with the limits stated plainly.
What Local Code actually is
Local Code is a desktop agent, not a single chat window. You pick a model from a built-in selector, download it, and start working — no separate tool installations, and, according to the vendor release, no sign-ins, API keys, or external MCP servers for local use. That last point is what earns it a place in our no-sign-up agents directory: the account-free path is the core product here, not a trial mode. If you do choose a cloud model instead, that changes the deal — your prompts and relevant files go to the provider you select.
The agent side matters too. Beyond answering questions, Local Code can create presentations, generate images and videos, analyze spreadsheets, and work with Word and PowerPoint files, according to MacRumors. It also includes a browser the assistant can use for online tasks. With your permission, it can read Mail, Messages, and Notes, and make changes in Calendar and Photos. The vendor documentation cited by MacRumors says Apple's App Sandbox restricts its access to files and other parts of the system — a real constraint, and a reassuring one if you plan to let an agent near personal apps.
What it costs, and what it demands from your Mac
Local use is free. Optional cloud access is a separate, paid route: MacRumors reports it is available through your own API keys or prepaid credits starting at $9.99. We have not verified that starting price against the vendor's own pricing page, so treat it as reported, not confirmed.
The real price is hardware and disk space. The vendor site lists 16GB of memory as the minimum for the Qwen 3.8 27B model, with recommended downloads taking around 10GB to 21GB of storage, according to MacRumors. The larger DeepSeek models are far heavier: around 89GB or 376GB downloads depending on the version. In plain terms, this is a tool for a reasonably equipped Mac with free disk space to spare — not a lightweight web alternative, and not a Windows or Linux option in this release.
Who it suits, and who should skip it
It suits you if: you use a Mac, you care more about privacy than about the newest cloud model, and you are happy to trade a large download for an assistant that keeps your work on your machine. Writers, coders, and anyone handling sensitive documents are the obvious fit — the same audience as our free API and local-model guides, except here there is no API key to manage at all.
Skip it for now if: you are on Windows or Linux, your Mac is short on memory or disk space, or you need a Mac App Store install today — the vendor says that release is coming soon, and for now the download is direct. Also skip the biggest DeepSeek downloads unless your machine comfortably meets the requirements above; starting with the smallest model that fits your Mac is the sensible first step.
How to try it safely
1. Check the machine first. Confirm you have at least 16GB of memory and 10GB to 21GB of free space for the entry-level Qwen model before downloading anything larger.
2. Start local, stay local. Pick a local model from the built-in selector and do not add a cloud model or API key on your first run. That keeps the no-account, on-device promise intact.
3. Grant permissions one at a time. Say yes only to the Mail, Messages, Notes, Calendar, or Photos access you actually need for the task in front of you. An agent does not need your whole inbox to draft a presentation.
4. Verify before you trust it. As with any agent, check names, numbers, dates, and links in its output before sending or publishing anything. Local processing removes the cloud from the loop; it does not remove mistakes.
FAQ
Is Local Code really free?
Local use is free, according to both the vendor release and MacRumors coverage. Cloud access is the paid part, and it is optional.
Do I need an account?
No account, API key, or external MCP server is needed for local use, according to the vendor release. That is the whole point of the tool.
Is it available on Windows?
Not in this release. Local Code is a Mac assistant, with a Mac App Store release still to come.
Will my prompts leave my Mac?
Not when you use a local model — that is the vendor's stated design, and MacRumors reports the same. Choose a cloud model and that changes: prompts and relevant files then go to the provider.
Should I download the biggest model?
No. Start with the smallest model your Mac comfortably supports, and only move up if you actually hit its limits. The largest downloads run to hundreds of gigabytes.