diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 188a5eb..480aa60 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # ask-llm-cli
 
-Describe what you want to do in plain English, get a shell command back. Powered by Claude.
+Describe what you want to do in plain English, get a shell command back. Powered by Claude or [apfel](https://github.com/Arthur-Ficial/apfel) (local on-device macOS LLM).
 
 ![Shell integration demo](shell-integration-demo.gif)
 
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ It places the suggested command directly on your prompt line so you can review,
 ## Prerequisites
 
 - Node.js >= 18
-- An [Anthropic API key](https://console.anthropic.com/) set in ASK_LLM_CLI_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable
+- **Claude backend** (default): An [Anthropic API key](https://console.anthropic.com/) set in `ASK_LLM_CLI_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` environment variable
+- **apfel backend** (local, free): [apfel](https://github.com/Arthur-Ficial/apfel) installed via `brew install apfel` (requires Apple Silicon + macOS Tahoe)
 
 ## Installation
 
@@ -24,11 +25,19 @@ npm install -g
 Add this function to your `~/.zshrc`:
 
 ```zsh
+# Using Claude (default)
 ask() {
   local cmd
   cmd=$(command ask-llm-cli "$@") || return
   print -z "$cmd"
 }
+
+# Or using apfel (local, no API key needed)
+ask() {
+  local cmd
+  cmd=$(command ask-llm-cli --backend apfel "$@") || return
+  print -z "$cmd"
+}
 ```
 
 Then reload your shell:
@@ -47,3 +56,10 @@ ask "show disk usage by directory"
 ```
 
 Commands flagged as potentially dangerous by the model are shown with a warning.
+
+## Backends
+
+| Backend | Model | Requires | Best for |
+|---------|-------|----------|----------|
+| `claude` (default) | Claude Sonnet | API key + internet | Complex commands, high accuracy |
+| `apfel` | Apple on-device 3B | Apple Silicon + macOS Tahoe | Simple commands, offline use, zero cost |
diff --git a/ask-llm-cli.js b/ask-llm-cli.js
index ad60e6d..a16797d 100755
--- a/ask-llm-cli.js
+++ b/ask-llm-cli.js
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 
-// requires ASK_LLM_CLI_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY env var
-
 const fs = require('fs');
 const tty = require('tty');
+const {execFile} = require('node:child_process');
 
 const ANTHROPIC_API_KEY = process.env.ASK_LLM_CLI_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY;
 
@@ -71,6 +70,32 @@ async function callClaudeAPI(userRequest) {
     return await response.json();
 }
 
+async function callApfelCLI(userRequest) {
+    const prompt = `macOS zsh command for: ${userRequest}\nRespond ONLY with JSON: {"command":"<shell command>","safety":"SAFE or UNSAFE"}\nSAFE=read-only. UNSAFE=modifies or deletes data.`;
+
+    return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+        const child = execFile('apfel', [prompt], {timeout: 30000}, (err, stdout) => {
+            if (err) {
+                if (err.code === 'ENOENT') {
+                    return reject(new Error('apfel not found. Install it with: brew install apfel'));
+                }
+                return reject(new Error(`apfel failed: ${err.message}`));
+            }
+            const raw = stdout.trim();
+            if (!raw) return reject(new Error('apfel returned empty response'));
+            const cleaned = raw.replace(/^```\w*\n?/, '').replace(/\n?```$/, '').trim();
+            try {
+                const parsed = JSON.parse(cleaned);
+                if (!parsed.command) throw new Error('missing command');
+                return resolve({cmd: parsed.command, isSafe: parsed.safety === 'SAFE'});
+            } catch {
+                return resolve({cmd: cleaned, isSafe: false});
+            }
+        });
+        child.stdin.end();
+    });
+}
+
 function parseResponse(response) {
     const toolUse = response?.content?.find((block) => block.type === 'tool_use');
 
@@ -131,27 +156,49 @@ function prompt(question) {
     });
 }
 
+function parseArgs(argv) {
+    const raw = argv.slice(2);
+    let backend = 'claude';
+    const rest = [];
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < raw.length; i++) {
+        if (raw[i] === '--backend' && i + 1 < raw.length) {
+            backend = raw[++i];
+        } else {
+            rest.push(raw[i]);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return {backend, query: rest};
+}
+
 async function main() {
-    const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+    const {backend, query} = parseArgs(process.argv);
 
-    if (args.length === 0) {
-        process.stderr.write('Usage: ask <what you want to do>\n');
+    if (query.length === 0) {
+        process.stderr.write('Usage: ask-llm-cli [--backend claude|apfel] <what you want to do>\n');
         process.exit(1);
     }
 
-    if (!ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) {
+    if (backend === 'claude' && !ANTHROPIC_API_KEY) {
         process.stderr.write('❌ ASK_LLM_CLI_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY environment variable is required\n');
         process.exit(1);
     }
 
-    const userRequest = args.join(' ');
+    const userRequest = query.join(' ');
     const stopSpinner = startSpinner('⏳ Asking LLM');
 
     try {
-        const response = await callClaudeAPI(userRequest);
-        stopSpinner();
+        let cmd, isSafe;
 
-        let {cmd, isSafe} = parseResponse(response);
+        if (backend === 'apfel') {
+            ({cmd, isSafe} = await callApfelCLI(userRequest));
+        } else {
+            const response = await callClaudeAPI(userRequest);
+            ({cmd, isSafe} = parseResponse(response));
+        }
+
+        stopSpinner();
 
         if (isSafe) {
             process.stdout.write(cmd);