Local AI can start on hardware you already own, but its cost is more than the model download. OGAD (Off Grid AI Desktop) provides a free core app for local chat and document work, with optional paid features. To estimate your own cost, separate the software choice from hardware, electricity, storage, and setup time. That gives you a budget based on your task rather than a single universal price.
| Download OGAD | Desktop releases |
What would you like to do with Off Grid AI?
Want help with this workflow, or a feature you would like us to add? Email support@offgridmobileai.co with your devices and the task you want to improve.
What can you start with for free?
The core OGAD app includes local chat and Projects for working with documents. If you already have a suitable computer, you can test a small local model and a real task before buying new hardware or an optional paid tier.
“Free core app” describes the application price. It does not mean electricity, storage, internet access for downloads, or your setup time have no cost.
Start with one task, such as preparing a draft from a local document. If that task works well enough on your existing computer, you have evidence for the setup you need. Do not buy a larger machine only because a catalog offers larger models.
Separate the optional Pro price from the basic setup
On 29 September 2026, the official desktop page lists Pro at $69 once or $4.99 per month. It also states that the listed lifetime price changes as the product grows. Check the current checkout price, currency, taxes, licence terms, and device allowance before buying.
Pro is an optional product tier, not a required per-prompt charge for core local chat. Decide whether a specific paid capability is part of your intended workflow before adding it to the budget.
Do not assume identical feature availability on every operating system. Review the current desktop releases and the feature’s platform support as well as its price. A licence does not make an unsupported feature available on a platform.
Build a cost table for your own use
Use these categories:
| Cost | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Application | Free core or the optional plan you actually choose |
| Hardware | New purchase only if the existing device is unsuitable |
| Electricity | Measured incremental use and your tariff |
| Storage | Additional space or backup cost, if needed |
| Downloads | Any data charges under your connection plan |
| Setup and support | Your time or an agreed paid service |
| Review time | Time needed to check and use the outputs |
Keep one-time and recurring costs separate. A hardware purchase should not be presented as a monthly bill unless you deliberately spread it over a chosen period.
Likewise, a monthly subscription and a one-time licence are different cash-flow choices. Use the current terms rather than assuming future pricing.
Check the model’s licence and package
A model that is available to download may have its own use terms. Check the licence for the model and any supporting resources you plan to use, especially for business work.
Look at the complete package size. An image model, for example, may need several files. A text model’s download size also does not establish its total RAM requirement.
Use a small suitable model for the first test. If it cannot complete your task acceptably, identify the limitation before deciding whether to try a different model or buy hardware. Poor source material can be the problem even when the model runs correctly.
Estimate electricity from measurements
Use your own device measurement or a clearly stated estimate. For a measured average additional power draw:
Additional energy in kWh = additional watts × hours used ÷ 1,000
Then:
Electricity cost = additional kWh × your applicable price per kWh
The important word is “additional.” If the computer would already be running for other work, counting its entire power consumption as an AI cost can overstate the difference. If you keep a separate host running only for AI, its idle time may matter too.
Use the tariff that applies to your location and billing period. This article does not supply a measured wattage, runtime, or universal monthly electricity figure.
Include the cost of keeping a host available
If you run models on a home computer and access them from another device, the host must be available when you need it. That can change the cost compared with opening a local model briefly on your laptop.
Consider the host’s power use, maintenance, network setup, and the time needed to recover from a failed connection. Remote access from outside the home ordinarily needs internet at both locations.
You may prefer a simple local setup even when the home host can run a larger model. Include the operational work in the decision, not just model capability.
Count storage and retention honestly
Source documents, audio, generated images, indexes, and saved conversations can grow beyond the initial model downloads. Check actual disk use after completing a representative task.
If you need a separate backup or external drive, include that cost. If your current storage is sufficient, do not invent a new expense.
Keep a retention plan appropriate to your work. Deleting a model is not the same as deleting recordings or generated files, and keeping everything indefinitely can create storage and review work.
Treat setup help as a separate service
Someone may charge to configure models, prepare a document workflow, train staff, or provide support. That service is distinct from the app licence.
Ask for a defined scope: devices, tasks, included setup, support hours, and what happens when requirements change. Do not assume that a quoted service includes hardware, every paid feature, or unlimited custom work.
Use a written quote for setup and support costs. Keep those charges separate from the app licence in your budget.
Run a small trial before calculating value
Choose a task you already do and record the whole process: preparing input, running the model, reviewing the output, and putting it to use.
A fast answer that needs extensive correction may not save time. A slower local workflow may still be useful when keeping source processing on your own device is a requirement.
Do not invent a value for privacy or an hourly saving. Use your own constraints and observed work. Compare the total effort with the process you currently use.
Make the purchase decision from a working setup
Download OGAD and test the core workflow on your current computer. Then fill in the cost table with actual prices and measurements. You can decide whether an optional tier, more storage, new hardware, or setup support earns its place in the budget.