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SurfSense

Open Source
★ 16,624 • Updated Oct 27, 2026, 03:01 PM

SurfSense is a free, open-source desktop app for documents you can't upload.

Use Cases ▼
01

Researching and editing documents without uploading them to a cloud service

02

Transforming and converting files between different formats

03

Connecting plugins to read public pages without needing an account

04

Editing files while keeping the original unchanged

05

Using a local or remote model to process documents

What Problem It Solves ▼

SurfSense solves the problem of users needing a secure and private way to research, transform, and edit their documents without having to upload them to a cloud service. It provides an air-gapped solution that runs offline, keeping the user's documents on their machine, and allows them to choose the model they want to use, whether local or remote. This is particularly useful for users who work with sensitive or confidential documents and need to ensure their privacy and security.

Key Features ▼
✓

Air-gapped and private

✓

Supports various file formats

✓

Allows users to connect plugins

✓

Edits files while keeping the original unchanged

✓

Open-source and free

Overview

SurfSense is a free, open-source desktop app for documents you can't upload. A privacy-focused, NotebookLM-style AI agent that researches, transforms and edits your documents, on your machine. The index stays on your disk, you pick the model, local or remote, and there is no account. It supports various file formats such as PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, CSV, Images, Markdown, plain text, HTML, Recordings, and Podcasts. The app allows users to connect plugins, including Google Search, Web Crawl, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, Instagram, Google Maps, Amazon, Walmart, and Indeed, to read public pages without their own accounts. SurfSense also allows users to edit their files, making a new file each time, and never changing the original. The app is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can be downloaded from the official website.

Pros & Cons

Pros

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Air-gapped and private

+

Supports various file formats

+

Allows users to connect plugins

+

Edits files while keeping the original unchanged

+

Open-source and free

Cons

−

Limited support for certain file formats

−

Requires technical knowledge to use some features

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May have compatibility issues with certain systems or plugins

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NotebookLM Gemini Notebook Other AI-powered document editing tools

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