AI assistants that keep your data on your own device
Which AI assistants run locally or keep my data on my own machine?
Updated · 3 assistants ranked
Three assistants in our catalog describe keeping data on your own machine: Luke (local data, no central store), OpenClaw (self-hosted on your own hardware) and Vellum (runs locally by default, with an optional cloud container). All three have a score on at least one of Permissions & privacy, Memory and Connected apps and are ranked, but all three are pre-filled. Local does not mean offline: OpenClaw still sends prompts to the model provider you choose.
Top picks
- 17.0
Permissions 7Memory 7Connected apps —Time to finish 13m
- 26.0LukeBest free option
Permissions —Memory 6Connected apps —
- 35.3
Permissions 4Memory 5Connected apps 7
Top pick: highest average here. Best free option: highest among assistants you can use for free. Fastest that's still good: quickest median time to finish among those averaging 7 or more.
Full ranking
How this report works
Included are assistants whose catalog entry (checked 2026-10-26) says data stays on your own device or hardware. They are ranked by the average of Permissions & privacy, Memory and Connected apps, with at least one taken. Scores come from the published score sheet and are dated 2026-10-27. 3 of the 3 ranked assistants (Vellum, Luke and OpenClaw) carry pre-filled scores, which are placeholder estimates the site has not yet replaced with its own test runs, so treat their places as provisional. Averages are thin: Luke has one score. The Open source report lists OpenClaw as well, but Luke and Vellum are not described as open source.
How to choose
- Ask where the model runs. OpenClaw keeps state, memory and credentials on your hardware, but prompts go to the model provider and chat platforms you configure.
- Check the cloud option. Vellum runs locally by default but offers an isolated cloud container, and its catalog entry says data may transfer internationally.
- Plan for deletion yourself: Luke's entry says local data is cleared in the app or by uninstalling, with no central store to delete.
Can an AI assistant run on my own computer?
Three catalog entries say so: Luke (a Mac app with local data), OpenClaw (self-hosted) and Vellum (local by default, with an optional cloud container).
Does running locally mean my data stays private?
Not entirely. OpenClaw's entry says prompts go to the model provider and chat platforms you configure. Our Permissions & privacy test checks what an assistant can access and whether it lets go when you disconnect.
How do the three score?
Vellum averages 7.0 (Permissions 7, Memory 7), Luke has a Memory score of 6 and OpenClaw averages 5.3 over three tests (4, 5 and 7). All three are pre-filled, so every place is provisional.
What users say
the memory just… drifts. Had it handling a simple multi-step task and it straight-up forgot a key detail from the same conversation 20 minutes earlier.
Open sourceIt figured out the Spotify API, wrote the skill itself, and now it just pings me.
Open sourceI ran Vellum for a bit and had same feeling, like I was only person on earth using it. Memory was really good for morning check-ins, it would queue up tasks without me asking. The lack of integrations is probably why it stays quiet, people want one tool that connects to everything instead of wiring up Composio themselves. Hermes gets hype because it's flashier but Vellum is more practical for daily stuff.
Open sourceyou can start something on desktop, leave, and pick it back up from your phone without rebuilding the context
Open sourceFrequently asked questions
Which assistant is best for this?
Vellum leads with an average of 7.0, ahead of Luke and OpenClaw.
Is there a good free option?
Vellum is the highest-ranked assistant with a free plan, averaging 7.0.
How did you test these assistants?
Every assistant got the same published tests, word for word, scored from three checkpoints and the number of corrections it needed. Each test is on the Dimensions page.