Exa MCP Server
Lets your AI agent search the web and read pages as clean text, without an account
by Exa
SurfSense
by SurfSenseAppResearch something
Researches, summarises and edits your documents on your own computer, with no account
The problem it solves
You need answers from a stack of contracts, but you are not allowed to upload them to an online AI tool.
For People with private documentsAnalysts and researchersStudents
- Before
- You read every file yourself and retype changes, or paste private text into a web chatbot.
- After
- You drop the files in; the agent answers with citations and writes edited copies or new files, and the index stays on your disk.
- Stars
- ★ 17k
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Cost
- Free
- Platforms
- Mac · Win · Linux
- Runs
- Local
Screenshots
From the project's own repository.
Overview
SurfSense is a free, open-source desktop app in the style of NotebookLM for documents you can't upload. You add files or folders as sources, then ask its agent for answers with citations, new Word, Excel, PowerPoint or PDF files, edited copies with tracked changes, or podcasts, mind maps, flashcards and quizzes. The index stays on your disk and you pick a local or remote model. It suits people who work with contracts, reports and other private documents.
Unlike NotebookLM it runs offline on your machine and can edit your files, always as a new copy so the original stays as it was.
Try these first
Start with the first one: it is a small task you can check easily.
- Summarise [file name] in five bullet points and cite the page for each point.First try · read-only
- Redline this contract with tracked changes: change the payment terms to 30 days and add a comment explaining why.makes a new copy
- Make a 10-question quiz from the sources in this chat.
- Pull the totals from these three spreadsheets into a new Excel file with a chart.makes a new file
Example prompts written by Agent Flows Hub.
Features
From the creator's documentation.
| Feature | What it does | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Cited answers | Answers questions across PDFs, Office files, images and recordings, with citations | Your computer |
| Edits as copies | Tracked changes in Word, form filling in PDFs and cell edits in Excel; the original never changes | Your computer |
| New documents | Creates Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, Markdown files and web pages from your sources | Your computer |
| Study tools | Mind maps, flashcards, quizzes and podcasts voiced on your machine by default | Your computer |
| Model choice | Use a local model or any OpenAI-compatible API; a remote model receives your text | Local or remote model |
| Plugins | Built-in readers for Google Search, YouTube, Reddit and more need a licence; MCP servers you add do not | Trial or paid licence |
Good to know
You have a folder of contracts or reports that you cannot upload to an online service. SurfSense indexes them on your disk, answers questions with citations and writes edited copies or new documents.
Limits
- Answers and edits depend on the model you choose. With a remote model, your document text leaves your computer.
- Converting Office files to PDF needs LibreOffice turned on in Settings, and the built-in web plugins need a trial or paid licence.
Notes by Agent Flows Hub (original project name: SurfSense), written from the creator's documentation, not from running it ourselves. SurfSense README: formats, quick start and plugins · SurfSense pricing and licence FAQ
Stuck setting it up?
Tell us what happened. We take a look first; if it needs paid work, you get an estimate before anything starts.
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