Best Ollama Desktop App: Askimo - Fast GUI for Local AI

If you’re looking for an Ollama desktop app, an Ollama GUI, an Ollama client, or simply a smooth chat interface for running local models, this guide explains why Askimo Desktop stands out. It delivers a fast and truly native experience for Ollama models such as Llama 3, Mistral, Phi 3, and Gemma, while also supporting other providers including OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini.

TL;DR: Install Ollama, download Askimo Desktop, point Askimo to http://localhost:11434, pick a model (llama3, mistral, phi3, gemma), and start chatting with searchable, organizable, exportable conversations.

Why Use a Desktop GUI for Ollama?

While Ollama’s CLI is great for quick prompts, a desktop client adds productivity:

• Persistent, organized conversation history
• Full-text search across all past chats
• Star / pin important threads
• Export to Markdown for notes, docs or sharing
• One-click provider switching (local + cloud)
• Theming, shortcuts, and structured workflows
• Lazy loading for very large chats (Askimo only loads older messages when you scroll up)

Askimo turns local model experimentation into a repeatable workflow rather than a pile of terminal commands.

Performance note:

Most “Ollama desktop” and web-based UIs render the entire conversation into the DOM. As chats grow into hundreds or thousands of messages, memory usage spikes and the UI begins to lag—scrolling stutters, input becomes delayed, and rendering slows down.

Askimo takes a different approach. It’s built with a native-first, resource-aware design: messages stream in as you chat, and older history stays virtualized. Older messages are loaded only when you scroll up. This keeps memory usage low and performance consistently smooth, even during long research sessions or large coding conversations.

Quick Overview: Askimo vs. Basic Approaches

Step 1: Install Ollama

Ollama runs locally on macOS, Windows and Linux.

• macOS

Download the installer: https://ollama.com/download/mac

• Windows

Download the installer: https://ollama.com/download/windows

• Linux

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh

Test your install:

ollama run llama3

If a model isn’t downloaded yet, Ollama will fetch it automatically.

Step 2: Install Askimo Desktop (Ollama GUI)

Askimo Desktop binaries:

• macOS Installation Guide
• Windows Installation Guide
• Linux Installation Guide

Open the app (Applications folder / Start Menu) and proceed to provider setup.

Step 3: Connect Askimo to Ollama

Askimo auto-detects the default Ollama endpoint:

http://localhost:11434

If you changed ports or remote access, update it manually.

1. Open Askimo
2. Go to Settings → Providers
3. Select Ollama
4. Ensure Endpoint = http://localhost:11434
5. Choose a model (e.g. llama3, mistral, phi3, gemma, gpt-oss:20b, etc)
6. Save & start chatting

Switch models instantly—no terminal commands required.

Askimo Desktop Feature Deep Dive (Why It Feels Native + Scales With You)

Below is a deeper look at what makes Askimo more than “just another Ollama wrapper”. Feel free to slot in screenshots where indicated.

1. Performance & Resource Efficiency

• Lazy loading of older messages (virtualized history for massive chats)
• Streaming responses with smooth incremental rendering
• Minimal DOM footprint vs. web wrappers that re-render entire threads
• Efficient memory usage for research sessions that span hundreds of turns

2. Multi-Provider & Model Management

• Instantly switch between Ollama local models and cloud providers (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini)
• Per-chat provider/model context (no accidental mixing)
• Quick model selector (e.g. swap from llama3 → mistral for speed)
• Automatic endpoint detection for local Ollama

3. Search & Knowledge Organization

• Global full-text search across all past chats
• Keyword + semantic style workflow (fast narrowing by terms)
• Star / pin important threads for fast recall

4. Chat Thread Utilities

• One-click Markdown export (clean, dev-friendly formatting)
• Shareable transcripts for docs / PRDs / specs
• Lightweight copy sections workflow (soon: selective block export)
• Star, unstar, and reorder important sessions

5. UI, Personalization & Accessibility

• Light & dark themes (theme switching without reload)
• Font customization (readability tuning for long sessions)
• Keyboard shortcuts for: new chat, provider switch, search focus, export
• Smooth scroll and layout stability (no jumpiness during streaming)

6. Privacy & Local-First Workflow

• Local model responses (via Ollama) never leave your machine
• Cloud providers only when explicitly selected
• Export stays local unless you choose to share externally
• No silent background sync or analytics on content

7. Custom Directives in Askimo

Custom Directives let you define how the AI behaves when running local Ollama models. Instead of retyping long instructions every time you start a new chat, you set your preferences once and Askimo applies them automatically across all Ollama conversations.

• Consistent behavior for local models Keep your Llama, Mistral, Gemma, or Phi-3 chats aligned with the tone, style, and level of detail you prefer.

• Task-specific presets for repeated workflows Create directives for coding, debugging, summarizing papers, generating documentation, or anything else you routinely do with Ollama.

• Instant switching without prompt clutter Change directives in one click instead of pasting paragraphs of instructions into every message.

• Optimized for long sessions with local inference Directives help local models stay focused and reduce back-and-forth noise, making long research or coding sessions smoother and more efficient.

Features Unique to Askimo (Compared to Other Ollama GUIs)

• Unified multi-provider chat (local + hosted)
• Structured organization with search, favorites, and export options
• Native desktop experience with macOS and Windows installers
• Markdown-first export designed for developers and research workflows
• Seamless extensibility through a shared CLI and Desktop architecture

Other Ollama interfaces focus mainly on providing a chat window. Askimo is designed for long-term productivity, structured knowledge, and fast workflows across both local and cloud models.

Common Search Questions (FAQ)

Does Ollama have an official desktop GUI?

No. Ollama provides a CLI and a local API, but no official GUI. Askimo Desktop is a full-featured desktop client that connects to Ollama locally.

What is the best Ollama desktop app for macOS or Windows?

Askimo offers multi-provider switching, search, starring, export, and a polished UX designed for everyday use on both macOS and Windows.

Can I use Ollama models and cloud models together?

Yes. Askimo lets you run local Ollama models, then switch to OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini with a single click.

Is my data private when using Askimo with Ollama?

Yes. All local inference happens through your Ollama installation. Askimo only communicates with your local endpoint when using Ollama.

Why are responses slow?

Large models (like bigger Llama 3 variants) require strong hardware. Choose smaller models such as mistral or phi3 for faster responses, or upgrade CPU/GPU.

How do I change Ollama models in Askimo?

Open Providers → Ollama, then update the model name. You can pre-download a model with:

ollama pull mistral

Can I run Askimo + Ollama offline?

Yes. After models are downloaded, both Askimo and Ollama work entirely offline.

Troubleshooting

Model does not respond

Check if Ollama service is running:

ollama list

If empty, run a model to start the server:

ollama run mistral

Endpoint unreachable

Confirm port 11434 is active. If you customized the port, update Askimo’s provider settings.

Slow responses

Use a smaller model or close resource-heavy applications.

Missing model error

Pull it explicitly:

ollama pull phi3

Final Thoughts

Askimo brings Ollama to the desktop with speed, structure, and zero friction. Local models stay private. Your conversations stay organized. And your prompts become reusable knowledge instead of throwaway commands.

Try Askimo today: 👉 https://askimo.chat

Have feedback or feature requests? Star the repo and open an issue.