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Wren

wrenapp.dev

Free plan Open source macOSAPIBrowser extension
Visit wrenapp.dev
Spec score 8.0 #8 of 55 in WebSocket Tools

What it is

Wren is a free, open-source, local-first reference manager for research on Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 14 or later. It handles more than 40 bibliographic item types and keeps PDFs, EPUBs, HTML snapshots, images, and notes as plain files. Built-in PDF and EPUB readers provide annotations, and highlights can be exported inside a PDF. Its Markdown editor supports mathematics, code highlighting, reference links, anchored comments, and automatic backlinks. Full-text and semantic search can point semantic results to source passages. On-device layout analysis, OCR, and table extraction process PDFs, including scans, offline. Libraries can sync through iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another folder you already sync, without a Wren account or Wren servers. A Chrome connector captures references, PDFs, and snapshots. Optional bring-your-own-model AI supports several providers and local use. Wren also offers a local REST API, deep links, and bibliographic import and export.

Spec sheet

What it does
Wren is a local-first reference manager positioned as an alternative to Zotero for research papers, notes and annotations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Product
Wren is a local-first reference manager described as an open alternative to Zotero for modern research.Read 7 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
API
A local REST API on 127.0.0.1 can list items, search, retrieve citations, browse collections and tags, and add notes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integrations
Optional AI providers include OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Ollama and oMLX; cloud-folder sync can use iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Privacy
The maker says documents, notes, annotations and metadata stay on the machine unless the user configures a cloud AI provider.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support
The maker directs users to GitHub Discussions for questions and feature requests and GitHub Issues for bug reports.Read 7 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
License
The Wren application is released under the MIT License, while its separate browser connector is AGPL-3.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
AI behavior
AI helpers enrich metadata, structure documents and build embeddings; Wren states it has no chat or answer-generation feature.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
AI integrations
Optional bring-your-own-model AI supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Ollama, and Apple MLX, including fully local use with no key.Read 7 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Annotations
Highlights and other annotations are stored separately from original PDFs and can be exported into PDF copies.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Attachments
It stores PDFs, EPUBs, HTML snapshots, images, notes and web links as local attachments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Availability
The listed Mac app requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later and Apple Silicon; Windows and Linux builds are on the roadmap.Read 7 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Bibliographic model
Wren supports more than 40 Zotero-style item types with structured bibliographic fields and creators.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Browser capture
The Chrome connector saves references, PDFs and snapshots and is compatible with the Zotero connector workflow.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Browser connector
A Chrome browser connector saves references, PDFs, and snapshots in one click and communicates with Wren's local server.Read 7 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Build requirements
Source builds require macOS, Rust 1.96 or newer, Node.js 20 or newer and Xcode Command Line Tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Deep links
The wren:// URL scheme can open entries and specific PDF pages or annotations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Document extraction
An on-device pipeline performs layout analysis, OCR and table recognition, including on scanned PDFs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
EPUB reader
The EPUB reader supports chapters, in-book search, font sizing and light or dark themes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Import and export
Import and export formats include BibTeX, BibLaTeX, CSL-JSON and a portable native .wren archive.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Library
It supports 40+ bibliographic item types and stores PDFs, EPUBs, HTML snapshots, images, and notes as plain files.Read 7 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Limit: collaboration
The roadmap lists bundle sharing and peer-to-peer encrypted sync as future features, so they are not current capabilities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: mobile availability
Companion iOS and Android apps are listed on the roadmap rather than as currently shipped products.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Limit: platform coverage
The repository identifies the project as early development and macOS-only for now; Windows and Linux builds are listed as future work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: plugin API
A documented plugin or automation API is listed as planned rather than shipped.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Local storage
The library is stored on the user's machine using plain files and a local database.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Notes
The Markdown editor includes KaTeX mathematics, Shiki code highlighting, slash commands, anchored comments and backlinks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Organization
Collections, colorable tags, saved smart filters and duplicate detection with merging are available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
PDF reader
The PDF viewer provides outlines, thumbnails, search, zoom, printing and several annotation tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Praise: product positioning
Domain Arrivals described Wren as a polished, niche local-first reference manager with offline OCR and table extraction, a Zotero-style model, a local REST API and optional bring-your-own AI.Read 15 Oct 2026 · domainarrivals.com
Reading and annotation
Built-in PDF and EPUB readers provide annotation tools, and PDF highlights can be exported embedded in a PDF.Read 7 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Release status
The project website identifies the downloadable Mac build as signed and notarized version 0.1.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Repository activity
The public repository showed 83 commits, 5 stars and no forks when opened.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Search
Wren provides full-text search plus semantic vector search that returns source passages and page locations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security reporting
The repository provides a security-policy resource for privately reporting security issues.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Support channel
The maker directs questions and feature requests to GitHub Discussions and bug reports to GitHub Issues.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev
Sync
Users can sync a library through iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or another folder they already sync, without a Wren account or Wren servers.Read 7 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev

Plans and prices

Free Free macOS 14 Sonoma+ · Apple Silicon desktop app · v0.1.0 early access Read 15 Oct 2026 · wrenapp.dev

Every Wren plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source
  • PDF and EPUB annotation
  • Offline OCR and table extraction
  • No Wren account required for sync
  • Chrome browser connector

Limits

  • Requires macOS 14 or later
  • Requires Apple Silicon
  • No mobile apps
  • Windows and Linux builds are on the roadmap

Who it suits

Wren suits researchers who use Apple Silicon Macs and want local files, offline document processing, and flexible synchronization. It also fits users needing browser capture, annotations, and structured reference formats.

Verdict

Wren concentrates research management, reading, notes, search, and capture in a local-first Mac application. Its platform limits and lack of mobile apps narrow where it can be used.

Where Specifiction places it

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