Free tools · Model picker
Which local model fits your Mac?
Pick your memory. You get the safe default, the bigger brain that still fits, what to expect from it, and the one command to switch.
How much memory does your Mac have? (Apple menu → About This Mac → Memory)
16 GB · about 10–12 GB usable
START HERE
llama3.2:3b · 2.0 GB download
the quick default; upgrade once it works
BIGGER BRAIN
qwen3:8b · 5.2 GB download
the sweet spot: noticeably better answers, still quick
BIGGER BRAIN
qwen3:14b · 9.3 GB download
deeper reading; slower, and close to the ceiling with context
8B is comfortable; 14B works if you close other heavy apps.
With the chanio starter installed:
chanio init --model qwen3:8b
Switching models keeps your notes, captures, briefs and meter exactly as they are. The model is rented; the mind is yours.
Download sizes are Ollama’s default 4-bit tags as listed on ollama.com/library in September 2026. The memory rule of thumb (about 0.6 GB per billion parameters at 4-bit, plus 2–6 GB for context, plus 4–6 GB for macOS) comes from the community hardware guides; speed depends on the chip and on how much else is open.
The model is rented. The mind is yours.
Every model on this page will be replaced by a better one within a year. Your notes, captures and briefs will not be. chanio keeps them as plain Markdown in ~/chanio so the next model reads the same files the last one did. One line sets it up.
Questions people ask
Why does memory matter more than the chip?
On Apple silicon the model lives in unified memory shared with macOS. If the model plus its context window do not fit, it swaps to disk and slows to a crawl. A faster chip makes a model that fits run faster; it does not make a model that does not fit run at all.
What does 3B, 8B, 27B mean?
Billions of parameters. Bigger models read more carefully and reason better, and need proportionally more memory and time. At 4-bit quantization, budget about 0.6 GB per billion parameters plus room for the context window.
Is a 3B model actually useful?
For answering from your own notes, summarizing a day, and drafting, yes. For hard reasoning, current events, or long generation, no; that is what chanio's held-for-tonight tier is for. The honest setup is a small model that knows when to say hold.
Can I run a bigger model on an 8 GB Mac?
You can pull it; it will swap. A 7B model is borderline at 8 GB and a 14B is not practical. Stay with 3–4B models and keep the context window modest.
Which model does chanio use by default?
llama3.2:3b, because it fits every modern Mac. The founder runs a 35B model nightly on a 64 GB machine. Switch any time with chanio init --model; nothing else changes.