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AI tools for Windows

This topic groups together the Windows AI tools people actually install on fresh machines: coding copilots, desktop assistants, local model runtimes, and chat apps for daily work.

12 apps Quick install this topic Explore comparisons

Quick install this topic

Three equivalent ways to set up this topic on a Windows machine. Pick one — or mix and match — based on whether you want a single command, a declarative DSC config, or per-app control.

Option 1

Batch install with `winget import`

One copy-paste, no manual download. The command below pulls topic-ai-tools.packages.json from winpkg.com and runs winget import on it. Best for moving an app set between machines.

$f = "$env:TEMP\topic-ai-tools.packages.json"; Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing -Uri "https://winpkg.com/topics/ai-tools/packages.json" -OutFile $f; winget import -i $f

Run in PowerShell. Saves to %TEMP% and runs winget on it.

Already downloaded the file? Use the short command

winget import -i topic-ai-tools.packages.json

Option 2

Declarative setup with `winget configure`

One copy-paste, no manual download. The command below pulls topic-ai-tools.winget from winpkg.com and applies it with winget configure. Best for repeatable dev-box bootstrap and onboarding scripts.

$f = "$env:TEMP\topic-ai-tools.winget"; Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing -Uri "https://winpkg.com/topics/ai-tools/topic.winget" -OutFile $f; winget configure $f

Tip: on Windows with App Installer, double-clicking a downloaded .winget file runs winget configure on it automatically — no terminal needed.

Already downloaded the file? Use the short command

winget configure topic-ai-tools.winget

Option 3

Per-app install commands

Run only the apps you actually want. Best when you already have most of these installed and only need to top up.

winget install --id=Microsoft.VisualStudioCode -e
winget install --id=Anysphere.Cursor -e
winget install --id=Anthropic.Claude -e
winget install --id=Ollama.Ollama -e
winget install --id=Codeium.Windsurf -e
winget install --id=ElementLabs.LMStudio -e
winget install --id=ByteDance.Doubao -e
winget install --id=kangfenmao.CherryStudio -e
winget install --id=Jan.Jan -e
winget install --id=ZhipuAI.ChatGLM -e
winget install --id=ZedIndustries.Zed -e
winget install --id=lencx.ChatGPT -e

Compare tools in this topic

All comparisons →

Use these comparison pages when you are deciding between closely related apps before you install.

Cursor vs Windsurf

Compare Cursor and Windsurf on Windows for AI coding workflows, editing feel, agent-style features, and who each IDE suits best.

Cursor vs Microsoft Visual Studio Code

Compare Cursor and Visual Studio Code on Windows for AI coding, extension familiarity, editor stability, and when the upgrade is worth it.

Ollama vs LM Studio

Compare Ollama and LM Studio on Windows for local LLM workflows, CLI vs desktop UX, experimentation speed, and which tool fits your setup.

Focused install options in this topic

Smaller install flows, kept inside Topics

Day-one setup

Essential Setup

A day-one Windows setup for the apps most people want immediately after booting a fresh machine.

New PCsReinstallsCore everyday apps in one pass

Get the baseline essentials installed fast.

Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Visual Studio Code 7-Zip VLC media player Notepad++

Developer quick setup

Developer Toolkit

A practical Windows developer starter bundle for rebuilding an editor, terminal, runtime, and tooling stack in one go.

Developer workstation setupTeam onboardingFresh coding machines

Bring your dev stack back with one install flow.

Microsoft Visual Studio Code Git Docker Desktop Python 3.12 Node.js Go Programming Language

Why this topic matters

•Strong mix of cloud AI tools and local LLM runtimes
•Useful starting point for developer and productivity setups
•Useful for fresh-machine installs and day-one AI workflows

Apps in this topic

Compare related apps →

Microsoft Visual Studio Code Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft Visual Studio Code is a code editor redefined and optimized for building and debugging modern web and cloud applications. Microsoft Visual Studio Code is free and available on your favorite platform - Linux, macOS, and Windows.

developer-toolseditor

v1.99.3 Free

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Cursor Anysphere

The AI Code Editor

aicodecoding

v3.5.33 Free

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Claude Anthropic, PBC

Your AI partner on desktop. Fast, focused, and designed for deep work.

aiartificial-intelligenceartificialintelligence

v1.8555.2 Free

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Ollama Ollama

Get up and running with large language models locally.

aichatbotdeepseek

v0.9.6 Free

Details →

Windsurf Codeium

The most powerful AI IDE

codecodingdevelop

v2.3.9 Free

Details →

LM Studio LM Studio

Discover, download, and run local LLMs

aichatbotdeepseek

v0.4.9+1 Free

Details →

豆包 Beijing Chuntian Zhiyun Technology Co., Ltd.

Doubao is your intelligent AI chatting assistant and versatile tool, assisting in writing, translating, companion and programming. Doubao can answer questions, provide inspiration, assist in creation, and chat about any topic you are interested in.

aiai-chatchat-ai

v2.9.7 Free

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Cherry Studio cherry-ai.com

A desktop client that supports for multiple LLM providers

aichatbotchatgpt

v1.9.6 Free

Details →

Jan Jan

Turn your computer into an AI computer

ailarge-language-modelllama

v0.8.0 Free

Details →

智谱清言北京智谱华章科技有限公司

Find fun, get answers, and learn new ideas!

aiai-chatchat-ai

v1.1.8 Free

Details →

Zed Zed Industries

High-performance, multiplayer code editor from the creators of Atom and Tree-sitter.

code-editordeveloper-toolseditor

v1.3.6 Free

Details →

ChatGPT lencx

ChatGPT Desktop Application

chatgpt

v1.1.0 Free

Details →