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Local model. Your API key. Your rules.

Viola is a voice assistant for Windows that runs on your own LLM keys or a local model. It is an installed app, not a server you configure: no Viola subscription is required for BYOK or local LLM use, and provider costs stay between you and your provider.

BYOK

How BYOK and local-model mode work on Windows

Connect the providers you already use, then choose which path Viola uses for each task. No paid plan needed for either; pricing only matters if you want Viola-managed AI.

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Your LLM Provider

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, OpenAI-compatible endpoint, or local Ollama.

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Your Music

YouTube/Google music paths and local files you already use.

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Your Calendar

Connect Google Calendar through separate OAuth consent in Settings.

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No Viola Subscription

BYOK and local LLM paths do not require a paid Viola plan.

Features

What you get

Full functionality

  • ✓ Same feature set across Free, Pro, and Max
  • ✓ Music control, weather, calendar, timers
  • ✓ Wake word and push-to-talk controls
  • ✓ Signed Windows installer and public update checks
  • ✓ Multi-room audio sync

What stays local vs. what leaves your device

  • 🔒 BYOK LLM prompts go directly from your device to your selected provider
  • 🔒 Wake word, voice activity detection, and default speech-to-text run locally
  • 🔒 Local model mode keeps LLM inference on your own hardware
  • 🔒 Cloud account, sync, managed AI, and phone features stay separate from BYOK setup
  • 🔒 Not air-gapped: music, calendar sync, and phone calls need the internet. The Privacy Ledger and Network Flows document every connection
Setup

Quick start

Four steps to switch the LLM path.

1 Download
→
2 Open Settings
→
3 AI > Advanced
→
4 Done
FAQ

Common questions about local and BYOK use

What is a BYOK AI assistant?

BYOK means bring your own key. You paste your own OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or OpenAI-compatible API key into Viola, and the assistant sends prompts directly from your device to that provider. You pay the provider for tokens; Viola charges nothing for the BYOK path.

Does Viola send my data to the cloud?

Wake word, voice activity detection, and default speech-to-text run on your device. With BYOK, prompts go straight from your device to your chosen provider; in local model mode, inference stays on your own hardware. Cloud account, sync, managed AI, and phone features are separate and opt-in.

Does Viola work fully offline?

No, and we will not pretend otherwise. Local model mode keeps LLM inference on your hardware and speech runs on-device, but features like music streaming, calendar sync, and phone calls need the internet, and BYOK talks to your provider. The honest claim is local-first, not air-gapped.

Do I need a subscription for BYOK or a local model?

No. BYOK and local LLM paths never require a paid Viola plan. Paid plans only add a larger managed usage allowance for people who prefer not to manage their own keys. See plans.

Does Viola support Ollama?

Yes. Configure a local Ollama model in Settings under AI and Advanced, and supported local tasks run on your own hardware.

Is this a DIY setup like Ollama or Home Assistant on its own?

No. Viola is an installed Windows desktop app, not a server you configure. You get a full voice assistant (music, calendar, phone calls, browser tasks, multi-room audio) and choose the AI path in Settings. Curious how it stacks up against the big assistants? See the comparison.

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