ghostwork
Free open-source macOS agent that learns workflows without prompts.
Ghostwork is the most ambitious free Screenpipe GUI yet, adding autonomous workflow automation that the paid Screenpipe app lacks. It's ideal for macOS power users who value privacy and tinkering. However, it's alpha-quality—expect manual setup, bugs, and a learning curve. For a polished, out-of-the-box experience, consider the Screenpipe desktop app ($25/mo) or Rewind.ai.
Verified 6d ago · liveness 69/100 · cite: rightaichoice.com/tools/ghostwork
- Developers wanting a free, open-source Screenpipe alternative with added automation
- macOS power users seeking local, privacy-first screen recording and search
- Users who want to automate repetitive tasks without writing scripts or prompts
- Open-source contributors interested in desktop AI agent development
- Windows or Linux users (macOS only)
- Users who want a polished, turnkey product with official support
- Those who prefer cloud-based AI features or advanced model selection
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Skip Ghostwork if you're not comfortable with manual setup (Node.js, Screenpipe CLI, API keys) or if you need a polished, turnkey product with official support—this is an alpha-quality open-source project for tinkerers.
No subscription cost, but you'll need to supply your own LLM API key for the nightly consolidation and triggering; that can add up if you use a paid model like GPT-4 or Claude.
Ghostwork is free and open-source, with no subscription—unlike the Screenpipe desktop app at $25/month or Rewind.ai. It's ideal for developers and privacy-focused users who are willing to handle setup and want to avoid recurring costs. However, for non-technical users, the time spent setting up and maintaining it may outweigh the subscription cost of a polished alternative.
In short
ghostwork — Free open-source macOS agent that learns workflows without prompts. Best for Developers wanting a free, open-source Screenpipe alternative with added automation, macOS power users seeking local, privacy-first screen recording and search, Users who want to automate repetitive tasks without writing scripts or prompts. Free to use.
What people actually say about ghostwork — is it worth it?
We ran a structured research pass across product reviews, community discussions, and post-purchase forum threads to surface the patterns vendors won't publish themselves. Below: the recurring strengths, the hidden costs people mention most, and the cohort that consistently regrets adopting this tool.
51 mentions across 4 sources (Hacker News, YouTube, Bluesky, GitHub) · researched Jul 24, 2026.
- +Completely free and open-source under MIT license.
- +Runs 100% locally with no cloud dependency or subscription.
- +Autonomous workflow generation from observation without prompts.
- +Rich memory layers: working, episodic, semantic, procedural.
- +Active development with clear issue tracking and acceptance criteria.
- −No real user feedback outside GitHub issues.
- −Requires technical setup (Node.js, Screenpipe CLI, API key).
- −macOS only; no Windows or Linux support.
- −Actively evolving; expect bugs and breaking changes.
- −Limited documentation or onboarding for non-developers.
- • Requires free Screenpipe CLI (additional setup)
- • Requires Node.js runtime
Viability Score
How well maintained and how widely used is ghostwork? Built from what the vendor actually publishes (docs, changelog, tutorials, integrations, pricing), whether the site is live, and how much real users discuss it. How we calculate this
Last calculated: August 2026
How we score →Key Features
- Timeline view of screen recordings
- Natural language search across screen history
- App usage analytics with breakdowns
- Autonomous workflow generation from observation
- Memory layers: working, episodic, semantic, procedural
- Nightly consolidation via NREM/REM/GC phases
- Autonomy tiers with graduated trust
- AX-first native control via macOS Accessibility API
- Claude vision fallback for browser automation
- Multi-step skill replay with rollback
- HUD notifications with Cmd+Z undo
- Approval queue for externally visible actions
- Menu bar icon reflecting agent state
- Activity feed of all actions
- Zero-token deterministic skill replay
About ghostwork
Ghostwork is a free, open-source macOS desktop app that layers a graphical interface and autonomous agent on top of Screenpipe's screen recording and search. It runs silently in the background, watches every interaction across your apps, and builds a four-tier memory—working, episodic, semantic, and procedural—that lets it gradually take over repetitive tasks without any prompting, scripting, or integrations. Data stays on-device, appealing to privacy-focused power users and developers who want a local, no-subscription alternative to paid tools. It includes a timeline view, natural language search, app usage analytics, and a workflow automation engine with a graduated autonomy system. Unlike the Screenpipe desktop app ($25/month), Ghostwork works with the free Screenpipe CLI and adds macOS workflow automation that the paid app lacks. The project is MIT-licensed and community-driven on GitHub, though still alpha-quality: expect manual setup with Node.js, Screenpipe CLI, and API keys, and be ready to tinker with a rapidly evolving codebase.
Behind the Verdict
Ghostwork is a bold experiment: a free, open-source agent that learns your workflows from observation alone, no prompts or scripting. That's a pitch few can match, and it's genuinely exciting for tinkerers. But let's be clear about what you're signing up for. This is alpha software with a manual setup: clone, npm install, configure API keys, and run it alongside the Screenpipe CLI. If you're not comfortable in a terminal, stop reading. Where it shines is for developers and privacy-conscious power users who want full control over their data and automation. The memory architecture is thoughtful—working, episodic, semantic, procedural—and the nightly consolidation (NREM/REM/GC) is a clever nod to how human memory works. The autonomy tiers are a smart safety net: new rules run supervised with Cmd+Z undo, and externally visible actions always need approval. That's a design decision that respects the user. In practice, expect rough edges. The zero-token skill replay is a highlight—it reuses recorded steps deterministically, cutting LLM costs—but AX-first control via the macOS Accessibility API can be flaky on some apps, and the Claude vision fallback adds dependency on a paid API. Compared to the paid Screenpipe desktop app, Ghostwork offers automation on top of the same core, for free. But Screenpipe's paid app is likely more polished and supported. If you want a hands-on, local-first automation agent and don't mind debugging, Ghostwork is worth the effort. If you need something that just works, look elsewhere.
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Real-world workflow fit
Concrete scenarios for the personas ghostwork actually fits — and what changes day-one when you adopt it.
You manually copy data from a web app into a spreadsheet every day. Ghostwork observes this pattern, builds a semantic rule, and after a few repetitions compiles an executable skill.
Outcome: The agent runs the skill automatically each day, showing a HUD notification and allowing you to undo with Cmd+Z if needed. You save hours each week.
You want to search your screen history without sending data to the cloud. Ghostwork uses the free Screenpipe CLI and keeps everything on-device.
Outcome: You install Ghostwork, set it up in an hour, and use natural language to find past activities—no subscription, data stays local.
You're interested in desktop AI agents and want to contribute. Ghostwork is MIT-licensed with a modular architecture and active development.
Outcome: You clone the repo, read the architecture.md, and start contributing to the memory or execution stack—helping shape an ambitious project.
Use Cases
- Search your screen history using natural language to quickly find past activities
- Analyze app usage patterns to understand how you spend time on your Mac
- Automate repetitive tasks like filing emails or filling forms by letting the agent learn from observation
- Replace paid Screenpipe desktop with a free open-source alternative
Models Under the Hood
as of 2026-08-21
Limitations
- Ghostwork is a free, open-source macOS automation agent that works with the free Screenpipe CLI.
- It is currently in early development (0.1.x-alpha) with limited functionality and potential bugs.
- As an open-source project, it may have fewer polish and support than commercial alternatives.
- Setup requires manual installation and configuration.
as of 2026-08-12
Verification history
We have re-verified ghostwork 5 times since . Each pass re-reads the vendor's own pages and re-checks every listed field against that evidence; passes where nothing had changed are marked as such.
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
Free to cite with attribution — this page re-verifies continuously.
12-month cost
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
Plans compared
For each published ghostwork tier: who it actually fits, and what it adds vs. the previous tier. Cross-reference the cost calculator above for projected annual outlay.
Free
$0/mo
Ideal for
Developers and privacy-focused users who want a local, no-subscription Screenpipe GUI with automation capabilities and are willing to handle manual setup.
What this tier adds
Starting tier: $0 with timeline, search, analytics, workflow automation, and autonomous operation. No paid tiers—open source and self-hosted.
Where the pricing makes sense
The company stage and team size where ghostwork's pricing actually pencils out — and where peers do it cheaper.
Ghostwork is free and open-source, with no subscription—unlike the Screenpipe desktop app at $25/month or Rewind.ai. It's ideal for developers and privacy-focused users who are willing to handle setup and want to avoid recurring costs. However, for non-technical users, the time spent setting up and maintaining it may outweigh the subscription cost of a polished alternative.
Setup time & first value
How long it actually takes to get something useful out of ghostwork — broken out by persona, not the marketing-page minute.
For developers with Node.js and Screenpipe CLI familiarity: ~1-2 hours to install and configure. For non-developers: expect half a day or more, as you'll need to set up Node.js, Screenpipe CLI, and API keys, and troubleshoot issues.
Switching to or from ghostwork
How to bring data in from common predecessors and how to get it back out — written for the switcher, not the buyer.
- →From Screenpipe desktop app (paid): Since Ghostwork uses the same underlying Screenpipe data, you can point Ghostwork to your existing Screenpipe database and start using its free GUI and automation features.
- ↗To Rewind.ai: If you need a more polished, supported product with cloud features, you can export your Screenpipe data and switch to Rewind's subscription service.
Integrations
Resources & Guides
Tutorials & Learning
Official links
Tools that pair well with ghostwork
Common stack mates teams adopt alongside ghostwork, with the specific reason each pairing earns its keep.
Featured Head-to-Head Comparisons
Ghostwork vs Locus Robotics
Choose Locus Robotics if you run a warehouse needing physical automation to boost picking productivity; it's enterprise-grade with RaaS. Choose ghostwork if you're a macOS developer or power user wanting a free, privacy-focused tool that automates repetitive computer tasks by learning your workflow. They serve completely different domains—no direct competition.
Ghostwork vs Truleo
Choose Truleo if you need a law enforcement‑specific intelligence platform connecting RMS, CAD, jail calls, and BWC. Choose Ghostwork if you want a free, privacy‑first macOS automation agent that learns your desktop workflows. They serve completely different users and use cases.
Ghostwork vs Presto Voice
These tools serve completely different markets and needs—Presto Voice is an enterprise-grade drive-thru AI for QSR chains looking to boost revenue, while ghostwork is a free, open-source desktop automation agent for macOS developers. Choose based on your domain: restaurants or personal productivity. They are not direct competitors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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