Using ChatGPT online is convenient, but over time I started feeling the need for something more personal and reliable. I wanted an AI tool that works even when the internet is slow or unavailable and keeps my conversations private, especially when I’m on my Windows PC. While cloud-based tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude are powerful, they depend heavily on connectivity and external servers. Offline AI apps change that experience completely. They allow your computer to handle the thinking, which feels both empowering and secure.
I’ve personally explored several offline AI apps and curated a list of the best apps to run LLMs on Windows PCs.
Ollama is the one app that I kept returning to when I wanted something reliable and distraction-free. The tool lets you download and run many open-source language models directly on your Windows PC. You can start with small models for basic tasks or bigger ones for deeper understanding, and the best part is they all run offline.
You get a big library of models to choose from, like GPT-OSS, DeepSeek, Qwen, and Llama. It’s simple to use, with no fancy menus or extra steps. You choose a model, and once the models are installed, you can interact with them just like in ChatGPT but without the internet.
The software can be used to run reasoning, coding help, and writing prompts with excellent responsiveness. The best part is that this ChatGPT-like offline tool runs quietly in the background and does not slow down the system much.
Reasons to use the app:
Best for: Users who want a no-frills offline AI experience
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LM Studio is the app I would recommend to someone who is looking for a clean UI. Unlike a plain command tool, LM Studio gives you a desktop app where you can browse, download, and manage models in one screen. I liked how it shows progress and gives clear feedback, which is helpful if you are trying offline AI for the first time.
What sets LM Studios apart from other software in my list of the best apps to run LLMs on Windows PC is its ability to run more than one model side by side and compare them. For example, you can chat with a smaller, fast model and a larger, deeper-thinking model side by side without changing apps.
When you first open the tool, it instantly clicks, as it feels familiar and welcoming. The layout makes it easy to find models, download them, and start chatting right away. I liked how it shows progress and gives clear feedback, which is helpful if you are trying offline AI for the first time. Using LM Studio felt close to using an online chatbot, except everything stayed on my PC.
During my testing the software performed exceptionally well for longer conversations and writing tasks. It is ideal for people who enjoy watching the progress and clicking on options rather than typing commands. Furthermore, the visual feedback on the software is quite reassuring, especially for the beginners.
Reasons to use the app:
Best for: Users who prefer a guided and visual experience
GPT4All is another solid option if you want a ChatGPT-style assistant that works offline. It lets you run large language models privately on your computer, without using the cloud. What really sets it apart is its built-in document analysis support. Beyond simple chat, you can upload PDFs, Word files, or notes and ask questions about them. For example, I dropped in project notes and asked for summaries and action points.
The tool also comes with several pre-configured models that are ready to use without any manual setup. It feels smooth and reliable for writing, research, brainstorming, and casual chats.
People who care about privacy and want to work offline will find it especially appealing. Over time, it becomes clear that GPT4All is designed for real-world users rather than experimental tinkering. What’s impressive is that it avoids overwhelming you with options and keeps the overall experience simple and focused.
Reasons to use the app:
Best for: Students, writers, and everyday users
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AnythingLLM is the app I turned to when I wanted something that works without friction. There’s no cloud setup, no accounts, and no background tracking. You install it, load a local model, and it’s ready. The interface is out of the way and gets down to business, which made it simple to use for brainstorming, chatting, and note-taking. It never tries to promote ads or distractions, so it’s always calm and predictable. If your goal is ChatGPT like offline chat without extra noise, this simplicity is hard to beat.
What sets AnythingLLM apart from the other software in the list is how closely it works with your own files. When I tested it, I used my notes and documents to ask questions directly, and it saved a noticeable amount of time. That made the experience feel more personal than a standard chat app. I liked knowing my data never left my computer.
There is a small learning curve when it comes to handling documents, but once you get comfortable, the value becomes clear. Furthermore, the software can be a handy tool for students, researchers, and office work.
Reasons to use the app:
Best for: Students and professionals working with files
Msty feels like a quiet digital notebook that responds when you need it much like ChatGPT. It’s built to be minimal, quick, and efficient. From the first launch, everything felt relaxed and intuitive. It starts up fast, requires almost no configuration, and allows conversations to flow naturally without friction. On my Windows PC, it ran smoothly and stayed unobtrusive in the background.
I mainly used Msty for casual writing, quick notes, and creative ideas. The interface is clean and simple, so it never feels messy or confusing. The developers focused on just a few useful features instead of adding too many. Because of that, it’s easy to use right away, with no learning curve or extra effort.
I tried opening it on an old Windows device, and to my astonishment, it opened almost instantly and consumed very little memory. The interactions were fast and consistent, giving it the feel of a personal assistant rather than a cumbersome application. It’s precisely this simplicity that makes the tool a pleasure to use, as it doesn’t use any fancy graphics and complex options.
Reasons to use the app:
Best for: Casual users and creative thinkers
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While the software above can be run on older PSs, here are some of the minimum requirements we recommend, as going below that may jeopardise your experience. You will need a quad-core processor like an Intel i5 or Ryzen 5 processor along with 8 GB of RAM. You will require a quad-core processor such as an Intel i5 or Ryzen 5 processor and 8 GB of RAM. You will also require 50 to 100 GB of free storage space, preferably in an SSD, which will help you load models much faster.
Although a dedicated GPU is not required, an older GPU with 4 GB of VRAM can still be helpful when working with larger models. As far as the operating system is concerned, it is recommended that you use the latest Windows 10 or 11, which have better compatibility with the offline LLMs.
Furthermore, if you decide to use older CPUs and systems with lower RAM, they may overheat or slow down when handling heavy tasks. If you plan to use these models frequently, upgrading to newer hardware will help keep performance stable and running smoothly.