Phlox

Local AI medical scribe that transcribes visits and drafts notes on your own computer.

Type: Free · Open source
Monthly cost: $0
License: MIT (permissive)
Setup: Needs a tech helper
AI features: Generally available
Trust: Caution
Official site: https://phlox.bloodworks.io

AI capabilities

Local-first ambient scribe: real-time transcription (bundled parakeet.cpp), live note drafting, multilingual notes, patient-letter generation, task lists parsed from clinical plans, and a local AI agent over your own knowledge base (bundled llama.cpp LLM + Qwen3 embeddings). MCP server support. No cloud API key required.

Pricing

Free license. Hosting estimate: $0 (runs locally on a capable PC/Mac); a team GPU server costs more

Open source

Code: https://github.com/bloodworks-io/phlox
GitHub stars: 110
Latest release: 2026-10-14
Hosting: No hosted cloud. Free desktop apps (Windows .exe, macOS Apple Silicon .dmg, Linux flatpak) with bundled local models. A 'Phlox Web' browser edition runs on your own GPU with nothing uploaded. Docker/Podman for a team server.
Backing: Small independent project (bloodworks-io); no company or foundation backing. Active commits (2026-11-02).
No GitHub advisories published. Small project with limited outside review. README: 'not a certified medical device; AI-generated notes are drafts and must always be reviewed.' Do your own HIPAA risk assessment.

Trust checks

Admin-verified listing: Pass · Reviewed by the Catervas team: links and prices checked Nov 5, 2026
License verified: Pass · MIT is on the license allow-list
Active maintenance: Pass · Last release or commit 2026-10-14
No open critical security advisories: Pass · No unpatched critical or high advisories found. Keep it on the latest release.
Privacy and data policy: Pass · Self-hosted: your data stays on your own hosting.
Company or foundation backing: Fail · Small independent project with no company or foundation behind it.

Problems it helps with

Can't find or keep front-desk, MA, hygienist and billing staff: Drafts visit notes and letters while the clinician talks, with patient audio staying on the practice's own machine. That cuts 'pajama-time' charting without a $100-300/clinician/mo SaaS scribe.
Charting overload and after-hours notes: Drafts visit notes and letters while the clinician talks, with patient audio staying on the practice's own machine. That cuts 'pajama-time' charting without a $100-300/clinician/mo SaaS scribe.

Data as JSON: /api/tools/phlox · Compare tools: /compare · llms.txt

Information, not professional advice. Rankings can't be bought.