On this device first. Yours after that.
Orbit Thread is a local-first knowledge workspace. Notes, files and voice start in this browser. You search them here, and when you ask a question the answer cites the source. Sync and AI stay off until you turn them on.
Three layers. You choose the outer two.
On this device
Notes, documents, images and voice are saved in the browser before anything else runs. Search works offline, including the words inside a PDF page or a photo.
Sync, if you want it
An account starts a 30-day trial and can keep a copy in sync across your devices. That copy is hosted in the EU. “Keep on this device only” never leaves the browser.
A model, if you want one
Leave AI off and capture, extraction and lexical search still work. Or run a model on your computer, or connect Anthropic, OpenAI or Google with your own key.
Setup for a model on your computer is in Use LM Studio for local AI. Cloud models use your own API key.
The same workspace, a different pile of material.
A Space holds one project, client, course or area of life. Search and Ask stay inside that boundary.
Research
Papers, slides and your reading notes in one Space. Search the text inside every PDF and ask with citations to the page.
Consulting & client work
One Space per engagement, device-only rules where confidentiality needs them, decisions kept per client.
Project knowledge
Goals, constraints and decisions as one-line statements. Each Space keeps a current “where things stand”.
Meetings & voice notes
Record right after the call. The transcript joins the project’s search and can be cited by Ask.
Learning
Lecture slides, readings and your own notes searchable together — ask what you studied, see where it came from.
Personal knowledge
Ideas, scanned letters, plans and quotes. Capture in seconds; find them by any word when they matter.
Local-first, precisely
What does local-first mean in Orbit Thread?
Capture and search start in this browser’s private storage. Opening Thread on one device needs no account. A copy is uploaded only when you create an account and turn sync on.
Where does a synced copy live?
With sync on, a copy of the workspace is stored in an EU-hosted database, protected per workspace. Items and Spaces marked “Keep on this device only” are never uploaded.
Does local-first mean I cannot use AI?
AI is optional and off until you choose it. A local model such as LM Studio or Ollama runs on your computer. With your own API key, relevant excerpts go to the provider you already pay; Thread does not resell AI.
Can I leave?
Yes. You can export your Thread at any time. If a subscription ends, the workspace stays readable, searchable and exportable.