Leo (Brave)
Brave's built-in AI assistant. Configurable to talk to local Ollama out of the box.
Editorial verdict: “Best built-in browser AI for Brave users. Local mode is a checkbox, not a hack.”
Compatibility at a glance
Which runtime + OS combos this app works against. Source of truth for "will it run on my setup?"
What it is
For Brave users who already keep a local Ollama instance running, Leo is the fastest path to a browser-native AI assistant that doesn't phone home. Flip a single setting in Brave's preferences, paste your Ollama URL, and you're talking to a local Llama 3.1 8B or similar model — no extension, no API key, no extra daemon. It works on macOS, Linux, and Windows with 4 GB VRAM minimum. The trade-off is that Leo's tooling is deliberately minimal: it handles chat and page summaries, but won't replace a dedicated agent UI like Page Assist for heavy workflows. If you're already committed to Brave and want a zero-friction local assistant, this is the cleanest option available.
✓ Strengths
- +Built in — no extension to install
- +Local Ollama mode is officially supported, not a community hack
- +Privacy stance is consistent with Brave's overall brand
△ Caveats
- −Brave-only
- −Limited tooling vs Page Assist for power users
About the Browser extension category
Browser extension that uses your local model.
Where to go from here
Pre-filled with this app's recommended use case + budget tier. Get the full rig + runtime + model picks.
The full directory — filter by category, runtime, OS, privacy posture, or VRAM.
What this app talks to: Ollama, vLLM, llama.cpp, MLX, LM Studio. The upstream layer.
Did this app work for you on a specific rig? Submit the benchmark — it powers the model + hardware pages.