AIBuddy Vibe Coding IDE
Run AI Locally — Free Forever — for Code, Images & Video
The only Vibe Coding IDE that bundles local code, image, and video AI in a single one-click installer — no $20/month subscription, no token bills, no API key, and no separate runtime or creative-stack setup. Use cloud AIBuddy credits when you want extra power; the default is free, private, and runs entirely on your machine. The Claude / Cursor / Copilot alternative that doesn't lock you in — and the only local-AI desktop that ships images and video alongside code.
🖥️ Run AI on Your Own Machine — One Click
Cursor, Claude Code, and Copilot are cloud-only. Cline runs code-only locally if you first install your own runtimes yourself. AIBuddy is the only desktop that bundles code, image, and video AI behind a single one-click installer — local engines, creative stacks, and routing tuned inside the app so you skip the DIY setup rabbit hole. Install once. Code, draw, and animate — free on your own machine. No subscription. No API key. No data leaves your machine.
Local Code AI
One-click local stack on Apple Silicon, Windows, and Linux. The app ships curated coding engines and keeps them updated — no manual pulls, no research rabbit holes. Buddy auto-routes between local and cloud based on the task.
Local Image AI
One-click image studio for icons, mockups, hero illustrations, and asset packs from chat. Production-quality output on your GPU — prompts never leave the machine.
Local Video AI
Turn a still frame or text prompt into short clips locally. Built-in video studio with local-first rendering — cloud credits when you need extra horsepower.
Same Buddy. Same chat. Same Git integration. Same project context. The difference is your code, images, and video can all run on your GPU — and cloud credits stay in your wallet for when you actually need them.
📥 Download AIBuddy Desktop
Linux (ARM64)
For Raspberry Pi, ARM servers
In development — ETA Q3 2026
Coming SoonWant this? Let us know
📧 Need Windows, Linux, or Intel Mac builds? Contact us
🍎 Native macOS App NEW
Built with Rust & native macOS WebKit — ultra-fast, lightweight (~10 MB), and designed for the Mac App Store. No Electron, no V8, pure Apple experience.
macOS Universal (Tauri)
Apple Silicon + Intel • Native WKWebView
~10 MB • Code Signed & Notarized
Download Latest (macOS)Mac App Store
Native macOS • Sandboxed & Secure
Under App Store review — ETA Q2 2026
Coming to App StoreUse the Tauri DMG above for the native macOS experience now
The native Mac app uses the same Rust AI engine as the desktop IDE but runs natively without Electron. Learn more about the Rust preview
🌐 Web App PREVIEW
Try AIBuddy directly in your browser — no download required. Powered by the same Rust AI engine, with 34-language support and real-time streaming.
Rust Web App
Powered by Rust AI engine with 34-language support
No install needed • Same credits as desktop
Launch Rust Web AppElectron Web App
Full desktop experience running in your browser
No install needed • Same features as desktop
Launch Electron Web App🎯 Prefer VS Code? Get the Extension!
73% of developers use VS Code. AIBuddy integrates seamlessly with the world's most popular editor.
- ✅ Same AI power as Desktop
- ✅ Same credits work everywhere
- ✅ Direct IDE integration
- ✅ Free to install
marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=AIBuddyStudio.AIBuddy
Why Developers Choose AIBuddy
The AI coding assistant that works for 70% of developers worldwide
Works Everywhere
Windows, macOS, and Linux. Unlike Xcode AI - works for 70% of developers on non-Apple platforms.
VS Code - #1 IDE
73% of developers use VS Code. AIBuddy integrates seamlessly with the world's most popular editor.
No Subscriptions
Pay only for what you use. No monthly subscription. Pay-as-you-go credits that never expire.
30-50x Cheaper Reasoning
AIBuddy smart routing picks the best engine for each task at a fraction of the cost. Save money automatically — without publishing our routing recipe.
Persistent Context
AIBuddy remembers your project across sessions - tech stack, decisions, and preferences.
AI Conflict Resolution
Intelligent Git integration with AI-powered merge conflict resolution. Never struggle with conflicts again.
70%
of developers can use AIBuddy
73%
VS Code market share
50x
cheaper with smart AI routing
18,500+
tests passing
📊 How AIBuddy Compares
AIBuddy is the only one of these tools that bundles local code, image, and video AI in a single installer. Cline also runs locally — but only for code, and you have to install Ollama / LM Studio yourself. Cursor, Claude Code, and Copilot are cloud-only.
| Feature | AIBuddy | Cline | Cursor | Claude Code | GitHub Copilot | Devin Desktop (Windsurf) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundled local AI (no extra setup) | ✓ Code + Image + Video, one click | ⚠️ Code only — BYO Ollama / LM Studio | ✗ Cloud only | ✗ Cloud only | ✗ Cloud only | ✗ Cloud only |
| Local image generation | ✓ Built-in image studio | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Local video generation | ✓ Built-in video studio | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Free forever path (your hardware) | ✓ Free with bundled local AI | ✓ Free if you supply local LLM | ✗ $20/month minimum | ✗ $20/month minimum | ✗ $19/month minimum | ✗ Cloud credits; no local path |
| Standalone desktop app | ✓ Tauri-based | ✗ VS Code ext only | ⚠️ Forked editor | ⚠️ CLI only | ✗ Editor ext only | ⚠️ Forked editor |
| Works on Windows/Linux | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ⚠️ CLI only | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| VS Code Support | ✓ Native Extension | ✓ Native Extension | ⚠️ Forked editor | ⚠️ Terminal only | ✓ Yes | ⚠️ Forked editor |
| Pay-Per-Use Cloud Option | ✓ Only pay for usage | ✓ BYO API key, only pay LLM | ✗ Subscription | ✗ Subscription | ✗ Subscription | ✗ Subscription |
| Smart AI Routing (cloud + local) | ✓ Automatic, 30-50× cheaper | ⚠️ Manual per-task model select | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✗ Cloud only |
| Thread Memory | ✓ Persistent context | ✓ Plan + Act modes | ✓ Project context | ⚠️ Session only | ⚠️ Session only | ✓ Cascade memory |
| Git Expert Mode | ✓ AI merge resolution | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Basic | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ⚠️ Basic |
| Web Research | ✓ Real-time search | ✓ Browser MCP | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| All Languages Support | ✓ 50+ languages | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Your prompts stay private | ✓ Local-first by default | ✓ Private if local LLM | ✗ Sent to cloud | ✗ Sent to Anthropic | ✗ Sent to GitHub | ✗ Sent to cloud |
💡 What Developers Build with AIBuddy
Full-Stack Web Apps
Build React, Vue, Angular frontends with Node, Python, or Go backends. AIBuddy understands your entire stack.
Mobile Apps
Create React Native, Flutter, or native iOS/Android apps. Cross-platform development made easy.
AI/ML Projects
Build machine learning pipelines, train models, and deploy AI solutions with intelligent assistance.
API Development
Design RESTful APIs, GraphQL schemas, and microservices with best practices baked in.
DevOps & Infrastructure
Write Terraform, Docker, Kubernetes configs. AIBuddy knows your infrastructure as code.
Game Development
Build games with Unity, Godot, or custom engines. AI helps with game logic and shaders.
⚠️ macOS Users: First-Time Launch
When you first open AIBuddy on macOS, you may see "AIBuddy" cannot be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software. This is normal for apps downloaded outside the App Store.
To open AIBuddy:
- Right-click (or Control-click) on AIBuddy in your Applications folder
- Select "Open" from the context menu
- Click "Open" in the dialog that appears
- You only need to do this once — future launches will work normally
Alternative: Go to System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General and click "Open Anyway" next to the AIBuddy message.
✨ Key Features
Autonomous Coding Agent
Reads your codebase, writes files, runs terminal commands, and iterates autonomously until the task is complete.
Smart AI Routing
Three intelligence tiers auto-selected per task: deep analysis for debugging, fast iteration for codegen, lightweight reasoning for quick edits — tuned inside the app, not a public model list.
Full IDE Experience
Monaco Editor - The same editor that powers VS Code. Syntax highlighting for 50+ languages.
Integrated Terminal
Built-in terminal for running commands. Execute scripts without leaving the app.
AI Git Integration
View status, commit, push, pull directly. AI-powered merge conflict resolution. Smart branch management.
Extended Thinking
Watch AI reason step-by-step through complex problems. Say "think harder" for deep analysis mode.
Images & File Attachments
Drag-drop screenshots, paste images, attach any file type. AI understands images and routes to the best vision engine for the job.
Persistent Context
Remembers your project's tech stack, past decisions, and coding style across sessions. No repeating yourself.
34 Languages
Full localization in 34 languages. The AI replies in your chosen language — Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, and more.
Chat History Management
Delete individual chats or clear all at once with native confirmation dialogs. Full chat history with search.
Beautiful UI
Dark and light themes. Customizable layout. Native macOS/Windows experience.
Privacy First
Your code stays local. Encrypted API calls. No telemetry or tracking. 18,500+ tests ensuring quality.
💳 Start Free. Pay Only For Extra Power.
Your credits never expire — so the 250 you don't use today are still waiting tomorrow. Don't leave free AI on the table.
The same credits power the desktop app and the VS Code extension. Pay-as-you-go — no monthly subscription.
🏷️ Have a promo code? Apply it at checkout.
🚀 Getting Started
Download & Install
macOS: Open the DMG file and drag AIBuddy to your Applications folder.
Windows: Run the installer and follow the prompts.
Run Local (Free) — or Add Credits
On first launch, pick the one-click local setup to run free on your own machine — no API key needed. Want extra cloud power? Add credits or an API key anytime in Settings (⌘+, on Mac, Ctrl+, on Windows).
Start Coding!
Open a folder, create a new file, and start chatting with AI to build amazing software.
📋 System Requirements
🍎 macOS
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
- Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) or Intel
- 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
- 500MB disk space
🪟 Windows
- Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
- 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
- 500MB disk space
🐧 Linux
- Ubuntu 18.04+, Fedora 32+, or equivalent
- 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
- 500MB disk space
AI Coding Tool
Start Your Free Trial Today
Get 250 free credits the moment you sign up — no credit card needed. Use them with Claude, GPT, Gemini or run fully offline on your own GPU. Credits never expire, so start at your own pace.
Have a promo code? Apply it at checkout.
