Features

RAG, MCP Tools, AI Plans And Everything In Between

Askimo connects AI to your files, extends it with real-world tool actions, and automates complex multi-step workflows. All on your machine, all private.

Core Features

Core Features

Essential tools for every AI conversation.

Works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & Ollama

Switch between ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Ollama, Grok in one unified interface. Compare responses from different models without leaving the app.

Why use multiple AI providers

Persistent Chat History

Never lose a conversation. All your chats are saved locally with full-text search and organization. Access your history even when offline.

Rich Formatting

Beautiful markdown rendering with code syntax highlighting, tables, lists, and support for images and attachments.

Custom Directives

Create and save custom system prompts (directives) to shape AI behavior. Build different personas for coding, writing, research, and more.

Unified Prompt Library

Save and reuse your favorite prompts. Build a library of templates for common tasks and workflows.

Star & Organize

Mark important conversations as favorites for quick access. Build a personal AI knowledge library you can filter and return to anytime.

See It In Action

See It In Action

Watch RAG indexing, AI Plans, and MCP Tools in action, plus more features that extend what Askimo can do.

RAG Support (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)

Connect your documents, code, and knowledge base to AI conversations. Askimo indexes your files locally using Apache Lucene and jvector, enabling fast semantic search and context-aware responses. Your AI can now reference your actual documents, making answers more accurate and relevant to your specific needs.

See RAG in action

AI Plans: Multi-Step Workflows

Chain multiple AI prompts into automated workflows. Each step runs in sequence with its own focused role (research, analyse, assess, write), passing its output to the next automatically. Describe a workflow in plain English and the AI generates the plan for you. Export results as PDF or Word when done.

Example: AI investment research plan

MCP Tools Integration

Connect Askimo to any MCP-compatible tool server and take real-world actions directly from chat. Run scripts, call APIs, query databases, and automate multi-step tasks, all without ever leaving the conversation.

Learn about MCP integration

Works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & Ollama

Seamlessly switch between ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Ollama local models. Compare responses from different AI models side-by-side without leaving the app. Also supports Grok, LM Studio, LocalAI, and Docker AI for complete flexibility.

Why use multiple AI providers

Custom Directives

Create custom system prompts to shape AI behavior. Build different personas for coding, writing, research, and more. Switch between them with one click.

Run Python, Bash & Node Scripts from Chat

AI gives you code and Askimo lets you run it. Execute Python, Bash, and Node scripts directly inside the app in a sandboxed environment. Act on AI-generated output immediately without switching to a terminal or another tool.

Read: run scripts inside Askimo
Advanced Capabilities

Advanced Capabilities

Power user features for productivity and workflow optimization.

AI Plans: Multi-Step Workflows

Plans chain multiple AI prompts into an automated workflow where each step builds on the last. Steps can run sequentially, in parallel, or conditionally based on input values. The AI generation panel lets you describe a plan in plain English and generates the full configuration for you.

Example: investment research plan
  • Built-in plans for research reports, competitor analysis, job applications, and meeting notes
  • Each step has a focused role and persona for higher output quality than a single prompt
  • Describe any workflow in plain English and AI writes the plan definition for you
  • Export the final result or the full run as PDF or Word with one click

Lazy Loading & Performance

Efficient memory usage with virtualized message rendering. Unlike web-based UIs that render entire conversations into the DOM, Askimo only loads what you need. Older messages load only when you scroll up, keeping the app fast even with massive chat histories spanning hundreds or thousands of messages.

  • Smooth scrolling even in very long conversations
  • Low memory footprint compared to web wrappers
  • Fast startup and responsive UI
  • Perfect for long research sessions

RAG Support

Retrieval-Augmented Generation support for enhanced context and knowledge-based conversations. Connect your documents and data sources for more informed AI responses.

See RAG in practice
  • Context-aware conversations with your documents
  • Enhanced accuracy with relevant information
  • Local document processing for privacy
  • Support for multiple file formats

MCP Tools

Connect Askimo to any MCP-compatible tool server and execute real-world actions directly from chat. Run scripts, call APIs, query databases, read files, and automate multi-step tasks, all without leaving the conversation.

Read: MCP integration guide
  • Call external APIs and services from chat
  • Query databases and process data on the fly
  • Global MCP instances available across all chats
  • Per-project MCP instances for scoped workflows

Run Scripts Safely

Sometimes AI gives you code instead of a direct answer. Askimo lets you run Python, Bash, and Node scripts right inside the app, in a sandboxed environment with limited filesystem access, so you can act on AI output immediately without leaving the conversation.

Read: running scripts inside Askimo
  • Run Python, Bash, and Node scripts in a safe sandbox
  • Execute AI-generated code without switching tools
  • Limited filesystem access keeps your system protected

Export Conversations

Export conversations in multiple formats: Markdown, JSON, and HTML. Perfect for documentation, sharing, code reviews, data processing, or archiving important discussions.

  • Markdown for documentation
  • JSON for data processing
  • HTML for web publishing
  • Easy sharing with team members
Privacy & Performance

Privacy & Performance

Built with privacy and performance in mind.

Local Storage

All your conversations and data are stored locally on your machine. Your data never leaves your control.

Learn about privacy & security

Native Performance

Built as a true desktop application with native performance. Fast startup, smooth scrolling, and responsive UI.

Offline Access

Access your chat history and work with local models even without an internet connection.

Lazy Loading

Efficient memory usage with virtualized message rendering. Older messages load only when you scroll up, keeping the app fast even with massive chat histories.

Secrets Stay Secret

API keys are stored in your system keychain (macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager, Linux Secret Service). Where keychain is unavailable, AES-256-GCM encryption is used as a fallback.

Resource Efficient

Minimal memory footprint compared to web-based alternatives. Efficient rendering keeps your system running smoothly.

Use Cases

Perfect for Every Workflow

Whether you code, write, research, or manage a business, Askimo gives you the full stack: RAG for your files, MCP for real-world actions, and AI Plans for multi-step automation.

Developers

Go beyond chat. Index your entire codebase with RAG, automate multi-step engineering tasks with AI Plans, connect MCP tools to call APIs and run shell commands, and execute AI-generated scripts in a sandbox.

Example Use Cases:

Index your repo and ask questions about any function, module, or architecture decision
Build an AI Plan that profiles a bug, proposes a fix, writes the patch, and generates unit tests — all in one automated run
Query your database, call REST APIs, or trigger CI/CD pipelines directly from chat via MCP
Run AI-generated Python or Bash scripts instantly in a sandboxed environment, no terminal switching
Build a prompt library of debuggers, code reviewers, and doc generators for daily workflows

Content Creators

Teach AI your brand voice and past work so every suggestion feels like yours. Use AI Plans to automate multi-stage content pipelines — research, draft, and repurpose in one click, without jumping between a dozen tools.

Example Use Cases:

Upload your brand guidelines so AI always writes in your voice, not a generic one
Build an AI Plan that researches a topic, drafts the article, and reformats it as a tweet thread, newsletter, and LinkedIn post in sequence
Generate on-brand images for blog posts, social media, or thumbnails without leaving the chat
Generate SEO titles and metadata for your entire content library in one go, right inside the chat
Compare how Claude, GPT, and Gemini each approach the same topic before choosing the best angle

Researchers

Ask questions across hundreds of papers, notes, and reports as if you had read them all. Use AI Plans to automate the full research pipeline — from source summarisation to formatted output — without leaving the conversation.

Example Use Cases:

Upload all your papers and notes, then ask questions that span the entire collection at once with RAG
Run a multi-step Plan that summarises sources, identifies gaps, drafts a literature review, and formats citations — no copy-pasting between steps
Ask AI to analyse a dataset and generate a report, then run it safely inside Askimo with no setup needed
Ask two or three different AI models the same question and compare their conclusions side by side
Export a clean, structured summary of your findings ready to drop into a paper or presentation

Business Users

Get instant answers from your own documents privately, on your machine. Use AI Plans to automate reporting and analysis workflows end-to-end — without involving IT or exposing sensitive data to the cloud.

Example Use Cases:

Ask questions across your internal policies, contracts, and reports and get precise, sourced answers
Run an AI Plan that pulls data via MCP, analyses performance, identifies risks, and writes an executive summary — ready to present in one click
Connect to your business tools and ask AI to summarise sales performance, pipeline, or KPIs
Set a custom AI persona that always uses your company tone, terminology, and compliance language
Process confidential documents with a fully local AI model. Nothing ever leaves your machine
Get Started Free

Ready to Experience All These Features?

Download Askimo for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Start using these powerful features today.

Free & open source · No account required · Works offline with local models