Key Takeaways
- Free and open-source; the GitHub LICENSE is AGPL-3.0-only, matching this app's entry in the Local LLM Software Directory
- Runs on Windows 10/11 and Linux (.deb, .rpm, .AppImage); no macOS build as of this review β the project's own materials describe macOS support as planned, not shipped
- Works as a front end that detects and connects to existing local backends β Ollama, llama.cpp, KoboldCpp, LocalAI, vLLM, and LM Studio among them β or its own bundled "LU Engine" when none are installed
- Covers chat, coding assistance, and image generation (the last via an automatically configured ComfyUI install) in one interface
- Phone and tablet access uses QR-code plus six-digit-passcode pairing; devices connect over the local network by default, with an opt-in encrypted Cloudflare Tunnel for access from outside the LAN β inference still runs on the PC, not the phone
- A separate, optional paid service, LU Labs Cloud, sells hosted GPU inference by subscription or credit pack; it is not required to use the free local app
- Built by an independent developer using the GitHub handle PurpleDoubleD, who described the project's origin β switching between a terminal running Ollama and multiple ComfyUI browser tabs β in a dev.to post
π In One Sentence
Locally Uncensored is a free, open-source (AGPL-3.0) desktop app for Windows and Linux that runs local chat, code, and image-generation models through backends like Ollama and llama.cpp, with QR-code phone pairing and an optional paid cloud add-on for hosted GPU inference.
π¬ In Plain Terms
Instead of running separate tools for chat, coding help, and image generation, Locally Uncensored gives you one installer that manages all of them on your own PC. Your phone or tablet can reach the model running on that PC by scanning a QR code, without the model itself running on the phone. The app is free; a separate paid service exists only for people who want cloud GPU power instead of using their own hardware.
πNote: This review is the deep-dive companion to Locally Uncensored's entry in the Local LLM Software Directory β see that page for how it compares at a glance to dozens of other local AI tools.
What Is Locally Uncensored?
Locally Uncensored is a desktop application that gives chat, coding, and image-generation tools running on your own computer a single interface, instead of requiring a separate app or browser tab for each one. Per its GitHub repository, it is built with Tauri and does not require an existing inference server to already be running β it detects backends already installed on the machine, or installs and manages its own bundled engine ("LU Engine") if none are present.
- Core function: a desktop chat/code/image interface that connects to local inference backends already on your machine, or to its own bundled engine
- Detected/managed backends, per the GitHub README: Ollama, llama.cpp, KoboldCpp, LocalAI, vLLM, LM Studio, Jan, TabbyAPI, GPT4All, Aphrodite, SGLang, and TGI
- Image generation runs through an automatically configured ComfyUI install rather than a custom image pipeline
- Developer: an independent developer operating under the GitHub handle PurpleDoubleD, who identifies as "David" in a dev.to write-up about the project's origin
- Canonical repository: github.com/PurpleDoubleD/locally-uncensored, roughly 1,600 stars as of September 2026, with releases shipping close to weekly through 2026 (v2.6.9 on September 8, 2026 was the most recent at review time)
Get Locally Uncensored: Downloads for Windows and Linux
Locally Uncensored is available on Windows and Linux, distributed as direct installer downloads from the project's GitHub Releases page. There is no macOS build as of this review; the project's own materials describe macOS support as on the roadmap, not currently shipped. Always confirm the current release and file names on the Releases page directly, since installer names change between versions.
Platform | Download |
|---|---|
| Windows 10/11 | .exe installer |
| Linux (Debian/Ubuntu) | .deb package |
| Linux (Fedora/RPM-based) | .rpm package |
| Linux (portable) | .AppImage |
| macOS | Not yet available β planned per project materials |
This app has no fixed hardware minimum of its own beyond running a supported OS β actual usability depends entirely on which model and backend you run through it, the same as any other front end over Ollama, llama.cpp, or a similar engine. Check a given model's RAM/VRAM requirement before downloading it.
What Can You Do With Locally Uncensored?
The feature set centers on unifying several local-AI tasks β chat, coding help, and image generation β behind one installer and one interface, per the project's GitHub README and homepage.
- Local chat β converse with models served by whichever backend is detected or configured (Ollama, llama.cpp, KoboldCpp, LocalAI, and others), with no request leaving the machine unless you explicitly connect a cloud provider or enable remote access
- Coding assistance β use the same chat interface with a coding-oriented model for code generation and review, running through the same local backends
- Image generation β an automatically configured local ComfyUI install handles image generation from within the app, rather than requiring a separate ComfyUI setup and browser tab
- Model choice, not a fixed model β the app itself does not ship a single built-in model; it connects to whatever models are available through the backend you choose, so capability and hardware requirements depend on the specific model loaded, not on Locally Uncensored itself
- Backend auto-detection and management β Locally Uncensored can detect an existing Ollama, llama.cpp, KoboldCpp, or LocalAI install and use it directly, or install and manage its own bundled "LU Engine" if no compatible backend is already present
- Optional cloud provider connections β per the project's own materials, cloud providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenRouter, and Groq can be connected as an opt-in addition to local inference
Phone and Tablet Access: How the QR Pairing Works
The feature that most distinguishes Locally Uncensored from a typical local desktop chat app is built-in remote access from a phone or tablet to the model running on the PC β without the model itself running on the mobile device.
- Pairing works by scanning a QR code shown in the desktop app and entering a six-digit passcode on the phone or tablet, per the project's own documentation
- By default, a paired device reaches the PC over the local network (LAN) β no traffic leaves the local network in this mode
- Remote access from outside the LAN is available only if the user explicitly turns it on, through an encrypted Cloudflare Tunnel connecting the phone to the PC β it is described as off by default, not automatic
- In both modes, the model itself continues to run on the PC; the phone or tablet sends and receives chat messages but does not perform inference locally
- The app includes a status panel listing currently connected/paired devices, per the project's own materials
Usage Examples: Three Ways to Use Locally Uncensored
These are concrete workflows built from the documented features above.
Locally Uncensored Pricing: Free App, Paid Cloud Add-On
The Locally Uncensored desktop app itself is free. Its GitHub LICENSE file is AGPL-3.0-only, and the project's own materials state the local app "stays free either way" regardless of whether you also use the separate cloud option described below.
- No subscription, account, or usage limit is required to install and use the local desktop app
- A separate, optional service called LU Labs Cloud (hosted at lu-labs.ai) sells hosted GPU inference through subscription plans or one-time credit packs, for people who want cloud compute instead of using their own hardware
- The two are independent: using the free local app does not require signing up for LU Labs Cloud, and using LU Labs Cloud does not require paying for the desktop app itself, since it has no price
- Running your own connected cloud provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, and similar) through the app still costs whatever that provider charges directly β Locally Uncensored does not add a markup
On the "Uncensored" Name
The word "uncensored" in this app's name refers to a specific, factual property of certain open-weight models, not a claim this review makes about what any given model will say.
- Some open-weight models are distributed in an "abliterated" form, meaning a specific refusal-related behavior trained into the model's weights has been altered or removed by the model's publisher, separate from Locally Uncensored itself
- Locally Uncensored does not train, publish, or maintain any model itself β it is a front end that runs whatever model you choose to load through a connected backend
- The app applies no content-moderation layer of its own on top of a loaded model's output; whatever a given model produces reflects that model's own training and configuration, not a filter added or removed by this app
- This means the user, not Locally Uncensored, controls which model is loaded and what that model's existing behavior is β the app is a delivery mechanism for local inference, not a source of content policy
Who Should Use Locally Uncensored?
Whether Locally Uncensored fits depends on whether you want one app covering chat, code, and image generation, plus a way to reach your PC-hosted model from a phone.
Competitors and Alternatives
Locally Uncensored competes most directly with other desktop apps that combine local model chat with a simple, single-installer setup. Here is how it compares to a few others in that segment β see the Local LLM Software Directory for the full catalog.
- Jan β a free, open-source desktop chat app built around its own bundled llama.cpp engine, with optional cloud-provider connections and a local API server; narrower in scope than Locally Uncensored (chat-focused, no built-in image generation), but with broader official platform coverage including macOS. See the Jan review.
- GPT4All β an established open-source, local-first chat client from Nomic AI, similarly free with no built-in image-generation feature. See the Jan vs. GPT4All comparison for how these more chat-focused apps compare to each other.
- AnythingLLM β a document-chat and RAG-focused desktop/self-hosted app; a better fit than Locally Uncensored if retrieval over your own documents, rather than image generation, is the main feature you need. See the AnythingLLM review.
- Open WebUI β a self-hosted, browser-based chat interface typically deployed alongside Ollama, often in a container, rather than installed as a native desktop app; a comparison point for anyone deciding between a native installer and a self-hosted web interface.
Common Mistakes When Evaluating Locally Uncensored
Most confusion about this app comes from its pricing model, its relationship to LU Labs Cloud, or assumptions about what the "uncensored" name implies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Locally Uncensored?
Locally Uncensored (locallyuncensored.com, source at github.com/PurpleDoubleD/locally-uncensored) is a free, open-source desktop app for Windows and Linux that runs local chat, code, and image-generation models through backends such as Ollama, llama.cpp, KoboldCpp, and LocalAI, or its own bundled engine.
Is Locally Uncensored free?
The desktop app itself is free, licensed under AGPL-3.0-only. A separate, optional service called LU Labs Cloud sells hosted GPU inference by subscription or credit pack for people who want cloud compute instead of their own hardware β it is not required to use the free local app.
What license does Locally Uncensored use?
AGPL-3.0-only, per the GitHub LICENSE file and the license badge on the repository.
What platforms does Locally Uncensored support?
Windows 10/11 and Linux, with .exe, .deb, .rpm, and .AppImage installers, per the GitHub Releases page. There is no macOS build as of this review; the project describes macOS support as planned.
Which local AI backends does Locally Uncensored work with?
It detects and connects to Ollama, llama.cpp, KoboldCpp, LocalAI, vLLM, LM Studio, Jan, TabbyAPI, GPT4All, Aphrodite, SGLang, and TGI, per the project's GitHub README, and can install and manage its own bundled "LU Engine" if none of those are already present.
How does phone or tablet access work?
You pair a phone or tablet by scanning a QR code in the desktop app and entering a six-digit passcode. By default, the paired device connects over your local network. Remote access from outside the network requires explicitly enabling an encrypted Cloudflare Tunnel β it is off by default, not automatic. The model continues to run on the PC in both cases.
Does Locally Uncensored generate images and video?
It handles image generation through an automatically configured local ComfyUI install. This review confirmed the image-generation integration against the project's own documentation; verify current video-generation support against the project's own GitHub repository and homepage, since feature scope can change between releases.
What does "uncensored" mean in this app's name?
It refers to "abliterated" open-weight models β models whose publisher has altered a specific trained-in refusal behavior β that users can choose to load through the app. Locally Uncensored itself adds no content-moderation layer of its own; it runs whatever model the user selects through a connected backend.
Who develops Locally Uncensored?
An independent developer using the GitHub handle PurpleDoubleD, who identifies as "David" in a dev.to post describing the project's origin. PromptQuorum could not independently verify a company name or legal entity beyond the GitHub project itself.