Our verdict: Witsy is a feature-packed free assistant that brings AI into every app through keyboard shortcuts. It supports many providers and MCP servers, plus dictation and read-aloud. It is a bring-your-own-key app, so you need API keys or a local Ollama setup, and many extras need additional keys.
About Witsy
Witsy is an open-source desktop AI assistant under the AGPL v3. It is a BYOK app: you add API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, xAI, Mistral, DeepSeek, OpenRouter and other providers, or connect Ollama or LM Studio to run models locally for free. It works as a universal MCP client, so tools from MCP servers can be used with almost any model.
Its Prompt Anywhere shortcut opens a prompt window and types the answer straight into the app you were using, and AI commands work on text you have selected anywhere. Witsy also offers chat with local documents, image and video generation, dictation with cloud or local Whisper models, read-aloud and a realtime voice mode.
What it does well
- Many providers. Works with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, Ollama, LM Studio and others.
- MCP client. Uses tools from MCP servers with virtually any model.
- Prompt Anywhere. Generates text and inserts it directly into any application.
- AI commands. Runs prompts on selected text in other apps from a shortcut.
- Dictation and voice. Transcribes speech and offers a realtime voice chat mode.
Who it is for
Good fit
Power users with API keys or Ollama who want AI shortcuts available in every Windows app.
Look elsewhere
People who do not want to manage API keys, and anyone looking for a ready-made free cloud chatbot.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free and open source
- Works with almost any provider and MCP
- AI shortcuts in every app
- Local models through Ollama
Cons
- Needs your own API keys or a local model server
- Many features require extra paid API keys
- Lots of options to configure
How to install Witsy
Run the x64 Setup.exe from the official GitHub release. Open Settings and add API keys for the providers you use, or install Ollama and download a model for free local use. Note the global shortcuts for Prompt Anywhere and AI commands and change them if they clash with other apps.
Questions about Witsy
Is Witsy free?
Yes. Witsy is open source under the AGPL v3 and free. You pay providers for API usage, or use Ollama to run models locally at no cost.
Does Witsy send my data to the cloud?
Only to the providers you configure. Conversation history is stored locally, and with Ollama or LM Studio prompts stay on your PC.
