Goose is a capable open-source agent. It runs as a desktop app, a CLI or an API, and its README lists more than 15 model providers and 70 MCP extensions. Since April 2026 it can also run local models with built-in llama.cpp.
Off Grid AI does local models too. What it adds is context and control: a local memory of your meetings, mail and screens, and actions that wait for your yes. It also runs on your phone.
Download Off Grid AI · Get Pro for $79.99 once
Off Grid AI and Goose side by side
| Off Grid AI | Goose | |
|---|---|---|
| License and price | AGPL-3.0, free; Pro optional | Apache-2.0, no price listed |
| Desktop | Mac (Apple silicon), Windows, Linux | macOS, Linux, Windows |
| CLI | Server-only launch for the gateway | Yes, full agent CLI |
| Local models | Yes, llama.cpp, kept current in the background | Yes, embedded llama.cpp since April 2026 |
| Cloud model providers | Remote servers you add | 15+ providers, including Anthropic, OpenAI and Google |
| MCP tools | Yes, stdio and HTTP | Yes, 70+ extensions |
| Memory of screens, meetings and mail | Yes, with Pro | Not listed |
| Images and voice in and out | Yes, free | Not listed |
| iPhone and Android app | Yes, with on-device models | Not listed |
Checked 30 October 2026 against Goose's GitHub README, releases, docs site and local inference post. "Not listed" means the feature is not on Goose's own pages.
Where Goose is strong
Goose ships fast. v1.57.0 came out on 28 October 2026, five days after v1.56.0. The project has more than 55,000 GitHub stars.
It is built for builders. Recipes save a workflow as YAML you can share, parameterise and run in CI. Subagents run tasks in parallel. Its docs list a sandbox mode and prompt injection detection. You can also bring an existing Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini subscription.
Local models: what the Goose post says
Goose's local inference post is honest about limits. The first request takes "30–120 seconds" while the model loads. Most local models handle about 4K to 8K tokens of context. Tool calling works well with Gemma 4. Other models use emulated tool calls, limited to shell commands.
Off Grid AI Desktop (OGAD) is built around local models first. The Models screen shows which models fit your memory before you download. Since 0.0.55, its engines (llama.cpp, whisper.cpp and stable-diffusion.cpp) update in the background, so a new model loads without a full app release.
What Off Grid adds: context and a yes
An agent is only as good as what it knows about you. Goose knows the task you give it. Off Grid Pro knows your workday.
- Memory. Your screens, meetings, mail and documents become one local memory. Ask a question and get the answer with its source. See how much Off Grid remembers.
- Meetings without a bot. Calls are recorded, transcribed and summarised on your computer.
- Actions you approve. It drafts replies and issues through Gmail, Linear, Jira and Notion. Every action waits in a queue. Nothing goes out without your yes.
- God, your chief of staff. A morning brief, meeting prep and to-dos people owe you.
- Computer Use and Web Use. Pro works through visible apps or its built-in browser while you watch. See how to automate repetitive Mac tasks.
Free features Goose does not list
The free OGAD app also makes images on your GPU, listens with Whisper and talks back with Kokoro. Projects answer from your files with citations.
For your scripts, OGAD serves an OpenAI-compatible API at http://127.0.0.1:7878/v1 for chat, vision, images, speech and embeddings. Any tool that takes an OpenAI base URL can use it. See the local API guide.
On your phone too
Off Grid AI Mobile (OGAM) runs on-device models on iPhone and Android. It can also reach the bigger model on your computer over your home network or VPN. With Pro, Sync keeps chats and Projects in step, device to device.
When Goose is the better pick
Pick Goose if you live in the terminal, want recipes in CI, or want to switch between many cloud providers in one agent. Pick it if you need an Apache-2.0 license to build on.
Pick Off Grid if you want an assistant that already knows your meetings and mail, acts only after your yes, and runs on your phone.
What Pro costs
On 30 October 2026, Pro costs $79.99 once, a limited-time price down from $119, or $7.99 a month. One key covers up to 5 devices. The free app, images, voice, Projects and the local API never need Pro.
Start in ten minutes
- Download OGAD for Mac (Apple silicon), Windows or Linux.
- Pick a text model. The app shows which models fit your memory.
- Get Pro and enter your key.
- Connect Gmail or Linear, and approve your first drafted action.
No account at any step.
FAQ
What is Goose?
Goose is an open-source AI agent under Apache-2.0, part of the Agentic AI Foundation at the Linux Foundation. It runs as a desktop app on macOS, Linux and Windows, as a CLI, or through an API, and connects to more than 70 MCP extensions.
Can Goose run local models?
Yes. Since April 2026, Goose embeds llama.cpp in its desktop app. Its blog notes the first request can take 30 to 120 seconds to load a model, and most local models handle about 4K to 8K tokens of context.
What does Off Grid AI do that Goose does not?
Off Grid AI Pro keeps one local memory of your screens, meetings, mail and documents, records meetings without a bot, and drafts work in Gmail, Linear, Jira and Notion that waits for your yes. It also has iPhone and Android apps with on-device models.
Is Goose free?
Goose is open source and its pages list no price. Cloud model providers you connect bill you separately. Off Grid AI Desktop is also free; Pro costs $79.99 once on 30 October 2026, a limited-time price.
Does Off Grid AI work with MCP tools?
Yes. Off Grid AI Desktop runs MCP connectors over stdio or HTTP on your computer. With Pro, each proposed action waits in an approval queue before anything happens.
Get Off Grid AI Pro and give your agent a memory of your work, with your yes on every action.
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