The ChatCut desktop app is a native macOS and Windows application that runs the same editor as the web app, with one key difference: it exports video locally on your machine instead of in the cloud.
What editor does the desktop app use?
The desktop app loads the identical editor single-page application used on the web — same timeline, same panels, same project data — just packaged as a native app instead of running in a browser tab.
Which platforms does the desktop app support?
ChatCut desktop is available for macOS on Apple Silicon and for Windows on 64-bit (x64) machines. There is no Intel-Mac build and no Linux build.
What’s different about desktop versus web?
Desktop always exports locally on your machine; the web app always exports to the cloud, and neither platform lets you switch that default. Local export uses the same render engine ChatCut’s cloud export uses, so motion graphics, text, and captions render the same way — the difference is where the rendering happens, not how the output looks.
How does the desktop app update itself?
The desktop app checks for updates automatically when it launches and again every 4 hours. When an update is available, it downloads in the background and installs the next time you quit the app. If in-app installation isn’t possible for that release, ChatCut shows a manual download link instead.
What release channels exist?
ChatCut desktop ships in two channels: “ChatCut,” the production build connecting to the live ChatCut backend, and “ChatCut Beta,” a separate build connecting to a beta backend. Each channel is its own app with its own name and backend connection.
See also: How is the ChatCut editor laid out, What’s the difference between the ChatCut desktop app and the web app, How do I install and update the ChatCut desktop app.
What’s the difference between the ChatCut desktop app and the web app?
The desktop app and the web app share the same editor — the difference is where export happens. Desktop exports run locally on your machine through the same render engine ChatCut’s cloud export uses, so exporting keeps working without an internet connection; the web app always exports in the cloud. Each platform’s export location is fixed and isn’t user-switchable: desktop defaults to local, web defaults to cloud, with no toggle in settings. 4K export is only available through desktop’s local export — cloud export caps at 1080p and automatically resets a 4K selection down if you switch to cloud. ProRes 4444 and 4444-XQ (with transparent background) export on desktop through the AI agent’s local export or the local_export tool for connected coding agents; the manual export panel only offers MP4 (H.264) and WebM (VP8).
See also: Can I export in 4K.
How do I install and update the ChatCut desktop app?
Install ChatCut desktop from the macOS DMG (Apple Silicon only — there’s no Intel-Mac or Linux build) or the Windows NSIS installer (x64), which lets you choose the install directory during setup.
After installing, ChatCut checks for updates on launch and again every 4 hours. When an update is available, it downloads silently in the background and installs the next time you quit the app — no manual step needed. If an in-app update isn’t possible for a given release, ChatCut shows a manual download link instead so you can update by hand.
See also: Can I export in 4K.