All articles

ORA AI

Local vs. cloud models

What runs locally, what is optional in the cloud — and what that means for your data.

3 min readUpdated: 20 August 2026

The difference is the core of ORA: local models run on your hardware, need no internet and store nothing outside your home. Cloud models are larger and sometimes more capable — but your prompts leave your device.

The differences at a glance

  • Local (default): no transmission, works without internet, maximum privacy — model size limited by your RAM
  • Cloud (only with explicit consent): larger models, more context — your prompts are sent to the respective provider
  • You decide per feature: cloud features are disabled by default and can be turned off at any time

Consent given can be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future — in the ORA settings. Existing conversations and local data remain unaffected.

Consent given can be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future — in the ORA settings.

On this page

Didn't solve your problem? Contact us — we're happy to help.