Quickstart

Perch has three surfaces that share one account. Pick the one that matches how you want to work. You can move between them later without losing your memory or your usage allowance.

Start on the web

The web chat is the fastest way to try Perch. There is nothing to install.

1. Go to chat.perchai.app and sign in. Pick Starter, BYO, or Pro on first sign-in. No invite code and no waitlist.
2. Upload a document, or just ask a question.
3. Read the answer and check the references attached to it.

On the web you can upload documents, ask for cited answers, turn on web search, and use the citation checker to verify a draft. Local folder access and the sandbox stay on the desktop app.

Use the desktop app

The desktop app is the full Perch operator. It works directly from the folders on your Mac.

1. Download the desktop app from the Desktop page and install it. Early access builds are unsigned, so follow the install notes if macOS asks for confirmation.
2. Sign in. Your web account and your desktop account are the same account.
3. Approve a folder. Start with the folder that already holds the work: cases, invoices, statements, exports, drafts, or research.
4. Ask Perch to read first. The first useful answer usually comes after Perch has inspected the files, not before.

Use the CLI

The CLI gives you the same operator from your terminal.

npm install -g perchai-cli

Sign in once, point Perch at a folder, and work from the command line. The CLI and the desktop app share the same engine and the same account.

Choosing Quill or Saffron

Perch has two working styles that share one workspace:

• Quill is for writing with sources: memos, briefs, summaries, and drafts where every claim should trace back to the material.
• Saffron is for reading files under pressure: audits, reconciliations, and analysis where the goal is to find the thing that matters.

Use Quill when the draft needs structure and sources. Use Saffron when the folder needs judgment. Switch when the work changes.

Next steps

• Understand the engine: How Perch works.
• See the core feature: Citation verification.