# Rowboat

> Apache-2.0 local-first AI coworker — knowledge graph + MCP

**Category:** AI Agents  
**Pricing:** freemium  
**URL:** https://www.rowboatlabs.com  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/rowboatlabs/rowboat  
**Added:** 2026-09-15

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## The Hook

Rowboat is an Apache-2.0 local-first AI coworker that turns your work into an editable Markdown knowledge graph — with MCP tools and background agents.

## What's Good

Apache-2.0 (rowboatlabs/rowboat). Desktop app for Mac/Windows/Linux. Indexes email/meetings/notes into linked Markdown; browser, code mode (Claude Code/Codex), meeting notes, scheduled background agents. MCP + optional Composio. Local models via Ollama/OpenAI-compatible endpoints. Data stays local as files you can read and delete.

## The Catch

Vs OpenClaw / Continue / Claude Code (coding seats) and Mem0/Letta (memory runtimes): Rowboat is a full coworker desktop with graph memory, not a library you embed. Hosted Starter/Pro plans are paid convenience; OSS/local path is the free forever bar. Shell access on your machine means trust boundaries matter.

## Verdict

Apache-2.0 local AI coworker. Graph memory + MCP; paid cloud is optional.