Fluid

Maintain complete data privacy with a 100% offline AI assistant for Mac that leverages Llama 3 for secure, local processing without sending data to the cloud.

Freemium desktop assisting

Free plan available

$19/mo

About Fluid

Fluid is a dedicated AI assistant designed specifically for macOS users who prioritize data security and privacy. Unlike cloud-based alternatives, it operates entirely offline, utilizing the Meta Llama 3 large language model locally on the user's machine. By keeping all computations on-device, it ensures that sensitive conversations and proprietary information never leave the hardware, effectively eliminating risks associated with third-party data breaches or unauthorized data harvesting. The application remains idle by default to conserve energy, only engaging the GPU when a query is processed. The tool is built with a focus on seamless integration and safety within the Apple ecosystem. It is fully sandboxed and notarized by Apple, meaning it has restricted access to the system and cannot view the screen or access files without explicit permission. Key features include a voice recognition mode that allows users to interact via speech by holding a hotkey, and an automatic update system that uses encrypted HTTPS protocols. It requires Apple Silicon (M1 chips or later) and specific disk space allocations—ranging from 4.9GB to 8.6GB—based on the machine's RAM to host the Llama 3 weights. Fluid is particularly well-suited for developers, researchers, and privacy-conscious professionals who work with confidential data. While the base application is currently free in beta for Mac users, the developers offer a paid Private API for those needing programmatic access and a 'Fluid Box' solution for businesses seeking self-hosted AI infrastructure. This makes it an excellent choice for teams in regulated industries like finance or healthcare where cloud AI usage might be restricted due to compliance requirements. What distinguishes Fluid from many other local LLM wrappers is its user-friendly packaging and optimization for macOS. It minimizes background resource usage by remaining idle until called upon, preventing battery drain. The emphasis on a simple installation process—a standard DMG file—lowers the barrier to entry for users who want the power of Llama 3 without the complexity of manual terminal setups or environment configurations typically associated with local AI deployments.

Fluid pros & cons

Pros

100% offline processing ensures complete data privacy for sensitive tasks.
Fully sandboxed and notarized by Apple for enhanced system security.
Uses the high-performance Llama 3 model for local intelligence.
Optimized for Apple Silicon to minimize battery drain when idle.
Free beta version available for individual Mac users.

Cons

Requires a minimum of 4.9GB to 8.6GB of free disk space.
Only compatible with Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later.
Currently lacks an official App Store release.
Does not allow users to disable automatic updates in the current version.

Fluid use cases

Privacy-conscious developers can write and debug code locally without sharing proprietary logic with cloud providers.
Research professionals can process sensitive data sets through Llama 3 while maintaining strict confidentiality.
Remote workers can utilize an AI assistant in low-connectivity environments due to its 100% offline nature.
Business teams in regulated industries can deploy Fluid Box for secure, self-hosted internal AI infrastructure.

Fluid features

offline functionality
local ai processing
private api access
apple silicon optimization
automatic https updates
sandboxed environment
voice recognition mode
meta llama 3 integration

Fluid pricing

Is Fluid free? Yes, Fluid has a free plan, and paid plans start at $19 / month.

Beta

Free

Offline Llama 3 brain
Local computation
Voice Recognition mode
Sandboxed security
Automatic updates

Private API

$19 / month

Programmatic access
Private infrastructure
Secured requests

Fluid FAQs

Is Fluid assistant safe to use?

Yes, Fluid is highly secure as it computes all chats locally on your device and does not share data with external providers. It is also fully sandboxed and notarized by Apple, meaning it cannot access your screen or files without permission.

What are the hardware requirements for Fluid?

Fluid requires a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or later) running macOS 14.0 or higher. You will need between 4.9GB and 8.6GB of free disk space depending on whether your Mac has 8GB or 16GB+ of RAM.

How do I activate the Voice Recognition feature?

First, grant recording permissions at startup and enable Voice Recognition in the status bar menu. To speak to the AI, tap Control + Space and then hold the Control key while talking.

Does Fluid work without an internet connection?

Yes, Fluid is designed to be 100% offline. Once the initial setup and model download are complete, all AI processing happens locally on your Mac's hardware.

Will Fluid slow down my Mac or drain the battery?

Fluid is idle by default and does not consume significant resources when not in use. GPU usage only spikes during active answer generation, giving you total control over performance impacts.

Ratings & reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share how Fluid worked for you.