Hugging Bay
for desktop
Ask Tug anything. Tug picks a free model that fits your computer, gets it ready and answers on your computer. Switch models any time.
Tug is the desktop assistant from The Hugging Bay. The app is free to download; connected services may have their own costs.
Next: open it
Your download has started. It may take a minute. When it finishes:
- Open the file in your Downloads folder. It ends in .dmg.
- Drag The Hugging Bay into Applications.
- Open it from Applications. If your Mac asks, choose Open.
- Open your Downloads folder.
- Open the AppImage, or install the .deb with your software installer.
- Open Hugging Bay from your apps.
- Open the installer in your Downloads folder.
- Follow the steps on screen.
- Open Hugging Bay from the Start menu.
Then come back to your model and choose Open in the app.
The app runs on a desktop computer. Share or copy this link to open it there.
Not yet. Use the website to find and download models.
On a Mac with Apple silicon? Download for Mac (Apple silicon)
Choose your system below. No model is bundled with the app.
Change computer or package

Just ask
Type a question. No account and no setup screens.
Picks what fits
Tug chooses a model your computer can run. You can pick another one any time.
Checked downloads
Every model file is checked against its recorded fingerprint before it runs.
Stays on your computer
Local model chats stay on your computer. Searches, downloads and any AIs you connect use the internet.
All platforms
Pick your system. When your browser identifies it, we highlight it below.
Linux
Windows
Intel Mac
Install the app
Mac
- Open the downloaded .dmg file.
- Drag The Hugging Bay into Applications.
- Open the app and ask Tug a question.
Linux
AppImage: make the downloaded file executable, then open it.
chmod +x ~/Downloads/The.Hugging.Bay_0.2.96_amd64.AppImage
~/Downloads/The.Hugging.Bay_0.2.96_amd64.AppImageOr install the .deb package:
sudo apt install ~/Downloads/The.Hugging.Bay_0.2.96_amd64.debOpen the app and ask Tug a question.
Windows
- Open the downloaded installer.
- Follow the installation steps, then open Hugging Bay.
- Ask Tug a question to get started.
Verify your download
Compare your file’s fingerprint with the published release. Expand your platform for its checksum and signature command.
Mac · Apple silicon · SHA-256
TheHuggingBay-0.2.96-arm64.dmg
In Terminal. This checks the hash and Apple signature of the DMG.
Run this after saving the file in Downloads. Stop if either check fails.
Windows · Intel / AMD · SHA-256
The.Hugging.Bay_0.2.97_x64-setup.exe
Install minisign first. In PowerShell, this checks the hash and release signature.
Run this after saving the file in Downloads. Stop if either check fails.
Linux · x86_64 · AppImage · SHA-256
The.Hugging.Bay_0.2.96_amd64.AppImage
Install minisign first. In a terminal, this checks the hash and release signature.
Run this after saving the file in Downloads. Stop if either check fails.
Linux · x86_64 · .deb · SHA-256
The.Hugging.Bay_0.2.96_amd64.deb
Install minisign first. In a terminal, this checks the hash and release signature.
Run this after saving the file in Downloads. Stop if either check fails.
Sizes are in MB, where 1 MB is 1,000,000 bytes. Some browsers and Windows File Explorer count 1 MB as 1,048,576 bytes and show a slightly smaller number.
How verification works →Prefer the command line?
Search, download and verify models with hbay.