Kobel

Verified

Desktop permission gateway that controls, per file, what AI assistants may read and change.

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Tracked since2026

The Bottom Line

Best for

Individuals and small teams who use AI assistants on local files and need per-file control, not one shared folder path

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest con

Linux users, and anyone who needs an open-source implementation they can audit themselves

TL;DR - Kobel

Free tier available; Pro is EUR 49 one-time or EUR 3.90 per month
Five permission levels set per file; blocked files are not visible to the tool…
Runs locally on Windows and macOS, no cloud component; every tool call is writt…

Pricing: Free forever

Best for: Individuals and small teams who use AI assistants on local files and need per-file control, not one shared folder path

Top Pros

Five permission levels per file: edit, edit with backup, edit a copy, read only…
Local activity log of every tool call with timestamp, assistant, tool and file…
Proxies third-party MCP servers and OAuth-connected accounts behind the same pe…

Top Cons

Linux users, and anyone who needs an open-source implementation they can audit themselves

What is Kobel?

Editorial review

Kobel runs a local MCP server between an AI assistant and your files. Every file carries one of five permission levels: edit, edit with backup, edit a copy, read only, or blocked. Levels apply per file; a folder passes its level to anything added later. Blocked files never reach the tool layer - they are absent from listings, not filtered from the answer. Every call is logged locally. Works with Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Cursor, Copilot, Codex and other MCP clients. Windows and macOS.

Available on: Desktop

LCLouis CorneloupUpdated Sep 12, 2026 · how we evaluateSourcekobel.app ↗

Pros & Cons

Cons

Linux users, and anyone who needs an open-source implementation they can audit themselves

Preview

Key Features

Five permission levels per file: edit, edit with backup, edit a copy, read only…Local activity log of every tool call with timestamp, assistant, tool and file…Proxies third-party MCP servers and OAuth-connected accounts behind the same pe…Team policy published over a URL or UNC path and applied centrally to client ma…

Pricing

Free

Kobel is completely free to use with no hidden costs.

View pricing

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Best Kobel Alternatives

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Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

All Kobel alternatives7+ tools ranked, pricing + verdict per pick Kobel vs GitGuardianHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Kobel vs SnykHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins Kobel vs PiecesHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Kobel FAQ

Is Kobel free?

There is a free tier: one AI assistant, two folders or 50 files, 500 MB. Pro costs EUR 49 one-time or EUR 3.90 per month, and team plans exist in several sizes.

Who is Kobel best for?

People who use AI assistants on their own files every day and need control finer than a single directory path. The common case is a project folder that should be editable while one subfolder inside it, holding credentials or client data, stays invisible. No config file editing is required.

What are the best Kobel alternatives?

The MCP filesystem server and Desktop Commander are the usual free alternatives; both grant access per directory rather than per file. Docker MCP Gateway and similar gateways address a related problem on the server side. Kobel differs in being a desktop app with a graphical per-file permission model and a local activity log.

Source: kobel.app

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