Overview
Dyad is a desktop AI app builder. You describe an app and it generates and edits the code, like Lovable, v0 or Bolt, but everything runs locally and you bring your own model API keys. There's no account to create; you download it and start building.
Key capabilities
- Local: runs on your machine, with your project files on your disk.
- Bring your own keys: use your own AI provider keys, with no platform lock-in.
- Cross-platform: desktop builds for macOS and Windows.
- No sign-up: download and go.
Tradeoffs
- You pay your model provider directly, and costs depend on how much you generate.
- Hosting and deployment are on you, unlike hosted builders that publish for you.
- Part of the code (
src/pro) is under a fair-source license rather than Apache-2.0.
Ideal for
- Developers who want an app builder without a hosted workspace
- Privacy-conscious prototyping
- People who already pay for model API access
Not ideal for
- Non-technical users who want one-click hosting
- Linux-only setups (not listed as supported)
Getting started
- Download the app for macOS or Windows from dyad.sh. There's no sign-up.
- Add your own AI provider API key in the app.
- Describe the app you want and let Dyad generate it; keep iterating with follow-up prompts.
- Your project lives on your machine, so deploy it however you normally would.
Technical notes
- Download: dyad.sh
- License: Apache-2.0, with
src/prounder FSL 1.1 - Community: r/dyadbuilders
- Source: dyad-sh/dyad
- GitHub stars: 22,269 (as of 2026-11-12)