Web, Desktop, and Agent Plugin

ChatCut comes in three forms: Desktop, the web app, and the Agent Plugin. All three open the same kind of editable ChatCut project; which one to pick mostly depends on how much footage you have and where you like to work.

ChatCut Desktop

We recommend ChatCut Desktop for most editing work. It reads supported files and folders straight from your computer, lets you use ChatCut or an already-connected local agent in the same editor, and renders supported exports on your own machine — no uploading or downloading along the way. When your hardware allows it, you can also choose 4K and HDR.

Signing in, syncing, and online generation still need a network connection.

How do I install ChatCut Desktop?

Can I use my own AI in the desktop app?

Yes. Besides the built-in AI, you can use your own AI subscription from the Codex or Claude desktop apps. There are two ways:

• Run Claude Code or Codex CLI directly inside ChatCut Desktop’s AI composer.
• Talk in the Claude Code, Codex, or WorkBuddy desktop app, and let that external app control the currently open ChatCut Desktop project over ChatCut’s local MCP connection.

The sections below cover each way of connecting your agent to ChatCut Desktop.

Use Claude Code or Codex CLI inside ChatCut Desktop

This runs a local agent you already have installed, inside ChatCut Desktop itself.

1. Open a project in ChatCut Desktop.
2. Make sure the AI panel is open.
3. At the bottom of the AI composer, select the agent button next to the message box.
4. In Agent selection, choose ChatCut, Claude Code, or Codex CLI.
5. If the interface shows Sign in, complete that agent’s login flow.
6. Type and send your prompt. The selected agent can read and modify the current project’s timeline directly.

Let an external desktop agent control ChatCut Desktop over MCP

This is the opposite direction from running a CLI inside the editor: the conversation happens in the Claude Code, Codex, or WorkBuddy desktop app, and ChatCut is the editor the agent operates on.

1. Install ChatCut Desktop and launch it at least once.
2. Make sure the Claude Code, Codex, or WorkBuddy desktop app is installed on the same computer.
3. Open the project you want the agent to work on in ChatCut Desktop.
4. Open the external desktop agent app and ask it to edit that project with ChatCut.
5. Once connected, an agent icon appears at the top of ChatCut Desktop. Select it to see ChatGPT or Claude Code and its connection status.
6. Select an agent’s name to return to its conversation; if the interface shows Reconnect, select it to repair the local MCP connection.

How do I update the desktop app?

When a new version is available, just select the update prompt that appears, or the update button at the top left. At this stage we recommend taking every update without hesitation: each release is more stable than the last and brings new features.

Does the desktop app work offline?

ChatCut Desktop is not a fully offline application. Signing in, project sync, the built-in ChatCut agent, online generation models, and other server-side capabilities all need a network connection. Local Claude Code or Codex may also reach their own providers’ online services while working.

What actually sets the desktop app apart: it can start from local media and render supported video exports on your machine — which is not the same as every tool staying offline.

ChatCut Agent Plugin

If you want the main conversation to stay in the Claude Code, Codex, or WorkBuddy desktop app, use the Agent Plugin. The agent opens an editable ChatCut project in its own Browser panel and does the work from the conversation. If an external agent is already controlling ChatCut Desktop directly, you do not need this plugin as well.

The plugin installs only into supported desktop agent apps. Start a new conversation in the matching app, copy the install prompt below, paste, and send. Do not send these prompts from the Claude web app, Claude Cowork, Claude Chat, the ChatGPT web app, remote web sessions, or the ChatCut web editor.

Install in Claude Code

Install in Codex

Recommended: search for chatcut in the official OpenAI plugin store and install it there. You can also install by command:

Install in WorkBuddy

Search for ChatCut under Experts in WorkBuddy and install it there — see chatcut.io/workbuddy. Do not reuse the Claude Code or Codex install prompts.

ChatCut Web App

To start right away, open app.chatcut.io and sign in. The web app includes the full AI panel, My Assets, the Viewer, and the Timeline; exports run through ChatCut’s cloud pipeline and follow the web export rules shown in your account.

Use the Chrome browser for the web app.