Your invisible AI companion for confident conversations π€β¨
The first free open-source version of Cluely - The invisible AI assistant built by Roy "Chungin" Lee that provides real-time insights, answers, and support during meetings, interviews, presentations, and professional conversations.
- Students - Never get caught off-guard in presentations or oral exams
- Sales Professionals - Get instant product info and objection handling
- Job Seekers - Ace interviews with real-time coaching
- Consultants - Access relevant data and insights on-the-fly
- Executives - Stay sharp in high-stakes meetings
- Anyone who wants to appear more prepared and confident
If youβre looking for a hosted desktop recording API, consider checking out Recall.ai, an API that records Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, in-person meetings, and more.
- Make sure you have Node.js installed on your computer
- Git installed on your computer
- Either a Gemini API key (get it from Google AI Studio)
- Or Ollama installed locally for private LLM usage (recommended for privacy)
- Clone the repository:
git clone [repository-url]
cd free-cluely- Install dependencies:
# If you encounter Sharp/Python build errors, use this:
SHARP_IGNORE_GLOBAL_LIBVIPS=1 npm install --ignore-scripts
npm rebuild sharp
# Or for normal installation:
npm install-
Set up environment variables:
- Create a file named
.envin the root folder
For Gemini (Cloud AI):
GEMINI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
For Ollama (Local/Private AI):
USE_OLLAMA=true OLLAMA_MODEL=llama3.2 OLLAMA_URL=http://localhost:11434
- Save the file
- Create a file named
- Start the development server:
npm startThis command automatically:
- Starts the Vite dev server on port 5180
- Waits for the server to be ready
- Launches the Electron app
npm run distThe built app will be in the release folder.
Pros:
- 100% private - data never leaves your computer
- No API costs
- Works offline
- Supports many models: llama3.2, codellama, mistral, etc.
Setup:
- Install Ollama from ollama.ai
- Pull a model:
ollama pull llama3.2 - Set environment variables as shown above
Pros:
- Latest AI technology
- Fastest responses
- Best accuracy for complex tasks
Cons:
- Requires API key and internet
- Data sent to Google servers
- Usage costs apply
-
Closing the App:
- Press
Cmd + Q(Mac) orCtrl + Q(Windows/Linux) to quit - Or use Activity Monitor/Task Manager to close
Interview Coder - The X button currently doesn't work (known issue)
- Press
-
If the app doesn't start:
- Make sure no other app is using port 5180
- Try killing existing processes:
# Find processes using port 5180 lsof -i :5180 # Kill them (replace [PID] with the process ID) kill [PID]
- For Ollama users: Make sure Ollama is running (
ollama serve)
-
Keyboard Shortcuts:
Cmd/Ctrl + B: Toggle window visibilityCmd/Ctrl + H: Take screenshot- 'Cmd/Enter': Get solution
Cmd/Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Move window
- UI not loading: Port mismatch resolved
- Electron crashes: Improved error handling
- Build failures: Production config updated
- Window focus problems: Platform-specific fixes applied
- Window interaction: Fixed focusable settings
- Installation confusion: Clear setup instructions
- Missing dependencies: All requirements documented
If you see gyp ERR! find Python or Sharp build errors:
# Solution 1: Use prebuilt binaries
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
SHARP_IGNORE_GLOBAL_LIBVIPS=1 npm install --ignore-scripts
npm rebuild sharp
# Solution 2: Or install Python (if you prefer building from source)
brew install python3 # macOS
# Then run: npm installIf you see other errors:
- Delete the
node_modulesfolder - Delete
package-lock.json - Run
npm installagain - Try running with
npm start
- Windows: App now works on Windows 10/11
- Ubuntu/Linux: Tested on Ubuntu 20.04+ and most Linux distros
- macOS: Native support with proper window management
- Translucent, always-on-top window that's barely noticeable
- Hide/show instantly with global hotkeys
- Works seamlessly across all applications
- Take screenshots of any content with
Cmd/Ctrl + H - AI analyzes images, documents, presentations, or problems
- Get instant explanations, answers, and solutions
- Process audio files and recordings
- Real-time transcription and analysis
- Perfect for meeting notes and content review
- Chat with AI about anything you see on screen
- Maintains conversation context
- Ask follow-up questions for deeper insights
- Local AI Option: Use Ollama for 100% private processing
- Cloud Option: Google Gemini for maximum performance
- Screenshots auto-deleted after processing
- No data tracking or storage
- Windows 10/11 - Full support with native performance
- Ubuntu/Linux - Optimized for all major distributions
- macOS - Native window management and shortcuts
β Live presentation support during classes
β Quick research during online exams
β Language translation and explanations
β Math and science problem solving
β Sales call preparation and objection handling
β Technical interview coaching
β Client presentation support
β Real-time fact-checking and data lookup
β Debug error messages instantly
β Code explanation and optimization
β Documentation and API references
β Algorithm and architecture guidance
| Feature | Free Cluely | Commercial Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 100% Free | $29-99/month |
| Privacy | Local AI Option | Cloud-only |
| Open Source | Full transparency | Closed source |
| Customization | Fully customizable | Limited options |
| Data Control | You own your data | Third-party servers |
| Offline Mode | Yes (with Ollama) | No |
- Gemini 2.0 Flash - Latest Google AI with vision capabilities
- Llama 3.2 - Meta's advanced local model via Ollama
- CodeLlama - Specialized coding assistance
- Mistral - Lightweight, fast responses
- Custom Models - Any Ollama-compatible model
Minimum: 4GB RAM, Dual-core CPU, 2GB storage
Recommended: 8GB+ RAM, Quad-core CPU, 5GB+ storage
Optimal: 16GB+ RAM for local AI modelsThis project welcomes contributions! While I have limited time for active maintenance, I'll review and merge quality PRs.
Ways to contribute:
- π Bug fixes and stability improvements
- β¨ New features and AI model integrations
- π Documentation and tutorial improvements
- π Translations and internationalization
- π¨ UI/UX enhancements
For commercial integrations or custom development, reach out on Twitter
ISC License - Free for personal and commercial use.
β Star this repo if Free Cluely helps you succeed in meetings, interviews, or presentations!
ai-assistant meeting-notes interview-helper presentation-support ollama gemini-ai electron-app cross-platform privacy-focused open-source local-ai screenshot-analysis academic-helper sales-assistant coding-companion