Bits

Open-source personal agent that runs on your own machine — an always-on daemon with crash-safe steps and memory in readable Markdown files

Open Source AI Personal Agents
Visit Website ↗ by Bits

What is Bits?

Bits is a small daemon on your own computer: every conversation is kept in a local SQLite journal, and what it knows lives in Markdown files you can open, edit or delete. There is no Bits server — only model calls leave your machine, and with a local model through Ollama or LM Studio, nothing does.

Every step of every task is saved to the journal before the next one runs, so work survives a crash or a restart, and long conversations are condensed into summaries while lasting facts move into memory files. When something is worth keeping, Bits turns it into an artifact — a small app with its own data, whose actions any WebMCP-speaking agent can use. It is MIT licensed and installs with Node 24+ and pnpm.

Key features

  • Always-on daemon with scheduled routines that keep working when the app is closed
  • Crash-safe turns — every step journaled before the next one runs
  • Memory in readable Markdown files, searched with SQLite FTS5
  • Agentable artifacts: small apps whose actions work over WebMCP
  • Bring your own model — Anthropic, OpenAI, or local models via Ollama and LM Studio
  • Sentinel reviewer for risky actions, asking you only when needed

Pros

  • Your data stays on your machine
  • MIT open source — read every line, fork it, self-host it
  • Memory you can actually read and edit

Cons

  • You install and run it yourself (Node 24+ and pnpm)
  • One-click connectors for Gmail, Calendar, Slack, GitHub, Drive and Notion are still coming soon — manual MCP setup meanwhile

Bits at a glance

PricingOpen Source
CategoryAI Personal Agents
Platformsweb, mac, linux
CompanyBits
Best forTechnical users who want an always-on personal agent on their own hardware
Official websitebits.interfacesforhuman.com
personal agentlocal-firstopen sourcealways-onmarkdown memory

How to choose the right AI Personal Agents tool

Personal agents go further than chatbots: they keep working in the background, use tools, and complete multi-step tasks on your behalf. Choosing one starts with trust and control. Look for clear permission systems — what the agent may do on its own, what needs your approval, and how you revoke access — because an agent connected to your email, calendar and files is powerful in both directions. Channels matter: an agent you can reach by text, call or inside your chat apps fits real life better than another dashboard. Check memory and continuity (does it remember your preferences and past tasks?), the models it can use, and whether it is hosted for you or self-hosted on your own infrastructure. Start any agent on low-stakes tasks, review its work, and widen its permissions only as it earns trust.

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Bits FAQs

What is Bits?

Bits is a small daemon on your own computer: every conversation is kept in a local SQLite journal, and what it knows lives in Markdown files you can open, edit or delete. There is no Bits server — only model calls leave your machine, and with a local model through Ollama or LM Studio, nothing does.

What are the main features of Bits?

Bits offers Always-on daemon with scheduled routines that keep working when the app is closed, Crash-safe turns — every step journaled before the next one runs, Memory in readable Markdown files, searched with SQLite FTS5, Agentable artifacts: small apps whose actions work over WebMCP, Bring your own model — Anthropic, OpenAI, or local models via Ollama and LM Studio and Sentinel reviewer for risky actions, asking you only when needed.

How much does Bits cost?

Bits is open source, so the software itself is free to download, use and self-host. Your only costs are the infrastructure you run it on and any paid services you connect to it.

What are the pros and cons of Bits?

Strengths of Bits include Your data stays on your machine; MIT open source — read every line, fork it, self-host it; Memory you can actually read and edit. On the downside, You install and run it yourself (Node 24+ and pnpm); One-click connectors for Gmail, Calendar, Slack, GitHub, Drive and Notion are still coming soon — manual MCP setup meanwhile.