Installation

Pencel runs as a native desktop application on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Download it, sign in, and either bring an API key or start on a managed plan.

System requirements

Requirement	Minimum
macOS	macOS 12 Monterey or later
Windows	Windows 10 or later
Linux	Any distribution that supports AppImage
RAM	8 GB
Disk space	500 MB

INFO

Pencel stores its database locally on your machine using SQLite. Your workspace data stays on your computer and is never synced to Pencel's servers. Only LLM calls leave your machine: with your own API key they go directly to the provider you choose; on a managed Auto/Private plan they route through Pencel's proxy (Private mode is zero-retention). Sign-in and account/entitlement checks also require a network connection. For the full breakdown, see Data Handling.

Download

Visit the Pencel download page and download the installer for your platform:

• macOS — Download the .dmg file. Open it and drag Pencel into your Applications folder.
• Windows — Download the .exe installer. Run it and follow the setup wizard.
• Linux — Download the .AppImage file. Make it executable (chmod +x Pencel.AppImage) and run it.

WARNING

On macOS, you may see a security prompt the first time you open Pencel. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.

First launch

When you open Pencel for the first time, an onboarding flow walks you through setup.

1. Open Pencel.
2. Accept the Terms of Service and sign in with Google or email. Sign-in is required before you can use any model (including your own API key).
3. The onboarding flow then walks you through:
   • Role — Pick the role that fits you (finance, engineering, operations, sales, and more) so Pencel can tailor what it suggests.
   • Goals & priorities — Choose from a gallery of common goals and drag-rank what matters most, or write your own.
   • Connect — Optionally connect a data source (Slack, Google, GitHub, databases) with real one-click OAuth.
   • Review — Pencel researches your context and proposes a starter agent, workflow, and a solution pack to install. Confirm what to create.
4. When you finish, you land on Pulse with a starter job already set up.

Signing in vs. paying for models

Signing in is always required. To actually run models you need either an active subscription or your own API key. Keys you bring are stored securely in your operating system's keychain — never in plain text or the database.

Choose how to power your models

There are two ways to run models in Pencel. Most people start with a subscription — it's the fastest path and needs no provider setup.

Subscribe (recommended for most people)

A Pro Desktop subscription is the simplest way to use Pencel. You don't create accounts with Anthropic, Google, or OpenAI or manage any keys — Pencel handles model access for you through its managed proxy.

• $49/month or $468/year, including 150 AI credits per month that cover managed access to Claude, GPT, and Gemini. Different models consume credits at different rates.
• Unlocks two managed modes:
  • Pencel Auto — Pencel picks a cost-optimized model for each task, so you don't have to think about which model to use.
  • Pencel Private — routes through a zero-retention proxy; the provider keeps nothing.
• When your monthly credits run out, buy top-up credits or switch to your own key to keep going at no extra Pencel cost.

Manage your plan under Settings → Account. Beta testers can redeem an invite code for free credits — see Beta Tester Setup.

Bring your own key (BYOK)

Prefer to use your own provider account? Add an API key and calls go directly to the provider — no Pencel credits are consumed.

• Anthropic (Claude) — Sign up at console.anthropic.com and create an API key under API Keys. Supports Claude Opus 5 and Claude Sonnet 5.
• Google (Gemini) — Visit aistudio.google.com and generate an API key. Supports Gemini 2.5 Flash and 2.5 Pro.
• OpenAI (GPT) — Go to platform.openai.com and create an API key under API Keys. Supports GPT-5.6 Sol and GPT-5.6 Terra.

Add keys any time under Settings → Credentials. See Accounts & sign-in for how sign-in, subscriptions, and BYOK fit together.

Verify your setup

On Home, use Run to send a short message like "Hello." If you get a response, sign-in and your model access are working.

What's next

• Quickstart — Build and run your first agent in five minutes
• What is Pencel? — Understand the core concepts and architecture