Dyad

Local, private AI app builder with zero lock-in

Build AI-powered applications locally with your own API keys. Fast, private alternative to v0, Lovable, and Bolt that runs entirely on your machine.

Overview

Build AI Apps Without Compromise

Dyad is a desktop application that brings AI-powered app generation to your local machine. Unlike cloud-based alternatives such as v0, Lovable, or Bolt, Dyad runs entirely on your computer, ensuring your code and ideas remain private while eliminating vendor dependencies.

Full Control, Zero Friction

Bring your own API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, or connect to local models via Ollama. Built with TypeScript and React, Dyad offers cross-platform support for Mac and Windows with no sign-up required—just download and start building.

Open Development, Apache 2.0

Licensed under Apache 2.0, Dyad welcomes contributions from developers who want to shape the future of local-first AI tooling. Whether you're prototyping a new product or building production applications, Dyad gives you the speed of modern AI code generation with the security and control of local execution.

Highlights

Runs entirely on your machine—no cloud dependencies or data transmission

Supports multiple AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, DeepSeek, Ollama)

Cross-platform desktop app for Mac and Windows with zero configuration

Apache 2.0 licensed with active community on r/dyadbuilders

Pros

Complete data privacy with local execution
No vendor lock-in—use any AI provider or switch anytime
No subscription fees or sign-up requirements
Fast performance without network latency

Considerations

Requires managing your own API keys and costs
Desktop-only—no web or mobile interface
Limited to Mac and Windows platforms
Smaller ecosystem compared to established cloud alternatives

Managed products teams compare with

When teams consider Dyad, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.

Base44

AI-powered no-code platform for building fully functional apps from natural language descriptions

BOL

Bolt.new

AI-driven app builder that generates full-stack web applications from natural language prompts, runnable and deployable in-browser

Bubble

No-code web application builder that enables creating interactive, database-driven apps through a visual interface

Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.

Fit guide

Great for

Developers who prioritize data privacy and local-first workflows
Teams wanting to avoid vendor lock-in with AI tooling
Prototyping and building apps without recurring SaaS costs
Users with existing AI API subscriptions looking to maximize value

Not ideal when

Teams requiring collaborative cloud-based editing
Users wanting a fully managed, zero-configuration solution
Organizations needing Linux desktop support
Beginners unfamiliar with API key management

How teams use it

Rapid Prototype Development

Generate functional React applications in minutes while keeping proprietary ideas completely private on your local machine.

Cost-Optimized AI Development

Use your existing OpenAI or Anthropic credits without paying additional platform fees or subscriptions.

Offline-First Workflows

Build applications using local Ollama models when working without internet connectivity or in restricted environments.

Multi-Provider Experimentation

Test different LLM providers (GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek) to find the best model for your specific use case.

Tech snapshot

TypeScript97%

JavaScript2%

CSS1%

Shell1%

HTML1%

Python1%

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an internet connection to use Dyad?

You need internet to use cloud AI providers like OpenAI or Anthropic, but can work fully offline with local models via Ollama.

What AI providers does Dyad support?

Dyad supports OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), Google Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen, and local models through Ollama integration.

Is Dyad really free?

Yes, Dyad is free and open-source under Apache 2.0. You only pay for the AI API usage from your chosen provider.

Can I use Dyad on Linux?

Currently Dyad supports Mac and Windows. Linux support may be added based on community contributions and demand.

How does Dyad compare to v0 or Bolt?

Dyad offers similar AI app generation capabilities but runs locally for privacy, uses your own API keys, and has no subscription fees or vendor lock-in.

Project at a glance

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Repo age10 months old

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Primary languageTypeScript

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