This is the second tutorial in the Getting Started with Engaggit series. In the first tutorial, you learned what Engaggit does. Now it's time to get it on your computer and run through the first-launch onboarding.
Downloading Engaggit
Head over to engaggit.com and click the Download button. You'll get a single file — pick the one for your operating system:
| Your Computer | Download |
|---|---|
| Windows | engaggit-setup.exe |
| macOS (Intel or Apple Silicon) | engaggit-*.dmg |
System requirements: Windows 10 or newer, macOS 12 or newer. If your computer was made in the last 5–6 years, you're almost certainly good to go.
The installer is small and downloads fast — no bloatware, no bundled extras, just the app.
Installation Walkthrough
On Windows
- Double-click the downloaded
.exefile. - If Windows shows a security prompt, click Yes to allow the installer to run.
- Follow the installer prompts. The defaults are fine — just click Next until it's done.
- When it finishes, Engaggit opens automatically. (A desktop shortcut is created for next time.)
On macOS
- Double-click the downloaded
.dmgfile to mount it. - Drag the Engaggit icon into the Applications folder.
- Open Engaggit from your Applications folder or Spotlight.
- The first time, macOS may ask you to confirm you want to open an app downloaded from the internet. Click Open — this is normal.
A note for Windows users: On the very first launch, your firewall or antivirus might ask about Engaggit. It's safe to allow it — Engaggit needs network access to scan Reddit and talk to your AI provider.
First Launch: The Welcome Screen
The first time you open Engaggit, you'll see a welcome screen. It's a quick 3-step tour, and it's the fastest way to get the app working. Let's walk through what each step actually means.
The 2-Step Onboarding (What Each Step Means)
Onboarding has just two steps:
| Step | What It Is | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Set Up Interests | Tell Engaggit what to search for | This defines who you're trying to reach on Reddit |
| Step 2: Configure AI | Pick which AI will do the thinking | This powers all the analysis and draft generation — without it, Engaggit can't work |
Step 1: Set Up Your First Interest
Click "Add your first interest" and fill out the form. It's simpler than it looks:
- Name — give it something memorable (e.g., "AI Tools for Designers").
- Search Rule — Keywords — a few words or phrases people use when they need you (e.g., "AI design tool", "midjourney alternative"). Add at least one.
- Subreddits (optional) — specific communities to search within, like
r/graphic_design. Leave it blank to search all of Reddit. - What I'm looking for — a plain-English description of the people you want to find and the problem they have.
- What to show in the draft — instructions for the AI on how to write your comment.
Save the interest. That's step one done — we'll cover all these fields in depth in a later tutorial, so don't overthink it now.
Step 2: Configure Your AI Provider
After you save your first interest, the onboarding automatically moves to the AI provider stage. This is the step with the most choices, so let's take it slowly.
Engaggit works with 7 AI providers, and you don't have to spend a cent to start. Your options, at a glance:
| Option | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Ollama (local model) | Free — runs on your own computer, offline and unlimited | Privacy, zero cost forever, no account needed |
| Ollama (cloud model) | Free tier | People who want Ollama without a beefy computer |
| OpenRouter | Free models available | One key for hundreds of models, easy switching |
| Gemini | Free models available | Free cloud quality without local hardware |
| OpenAI | Paid | Best-quality drafts |
| DeepSeek | Paid/free tier | Cost-effective cloud AI |
| Grok | Paid | X.ai's AI |
Here's the important part: picking one now is not a commitment. You can switch providers anytime in Settings, and no data is lost when you do. So if you're unsure, just pick whichever free option sounds easiest and keep moving.
One more thing worth knowing: the quality of your results depends on the model you choose. Bigger and newer models generally score posts more accurately and write better drafts — but they're often slower or cost more. The good news is you're not stuck with your first choice: you can experiment with different models and find what works best for your needs. A solid starting point is Ollama's cloud model gemma4:31b (no powerful hardware needed), or the local gemma4:26b if your computer can handle it.
No wrong answers here. Whether you choose local Ollama, Gemini, OpenRouter, or a paid provider later, the next article has step-by-step setup for every single one — API keys, model picks, and troubleshooting. We'll cover it all there. We'll also show you in detail how to register and get API keys for the different AI providers, so you can follow along even if you've never done it before.
And Then... Your First Scan Runs Automatically
That's it — onboarding is done. After you finish, Engaggit runs its first scan automatically, then keeps scanning in the background by default (once per hour). You'll see matched posts land in your feed without lifting a finger. You can change the scan interval anytime in the sidebar.
Navigating the Main Interface
Once onboarding is done, here's where things live:
- Left sidebar — your Interests list, the scan button, and quick links to Feed and History.
- Main area — your feed of matched posts, one card per conversation, sorted by relevance.
- Bottom of the sidebar — your last scan time and current status.
It's intentionally minimal. One screen does the job: find the right conversations, see why they match, and reply.
What's Next
You're installed, onboarded, and connected to an AI provider. Now let's make sure it's the right one for you — and get the free options set up properly.
Next tutorial — step-by-step setup for every provider, including the free options (Ollama local & cloud, OpenRouter, Gemini), how to get API keys, pick a model, and fix connection errors. Coming soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Engaggit free?
Engaggit has a free tier you can use forever — 1 Interest, 5 keywords, and 5 subreddits per rule, with all AI providers available. For unlimited interests and search rules, there's a PRO tier with a 14-day free trial (no credit card required). If you're just getting started, the free tier is more than enough.
2. Do I need to create an account to use Engaggit?
No. Engaggit is a desktop app that runs locally — you don't need an account to install or use it. The only accounts you might need are for your chosen AI provider (and they can be free ones). An Engaggit account is optional and only used if you want to activate the trial or a PRO subscription.
3. My computer won't run it. What do I need?
Windows 10 or newer, or macOS 12 or newer. If you plan to run a local AI model with Ollama, you'll also want roughly 16GB+ RAM — but you don't need a powerful machine at all if you use a cloud provider like Gemini or OpenRouter.
4. Windows showed a warning when I ran the installer. Is it safe?
Yes, it's safe. SmartScreen sometimes warns about apps that don't have millions of downloads yet. Click More info → Run anyway, and if your antivirus asks, allow Engaggit network access — it needs it to scan Reddit and talk to your AI provider.
5. macOS says the app "cannot be opened because it's from an unidentified developer."
That's the standard Gatekeeper check for apps downloaded outside the Mac App Store. Right-click the Engaggit icon and choose Open, then confirm. It's a one-time step.
6. I closed onboarding by accident. Can I get it back?
Sure — nothing is lost. Everything onboarding does is also available from the main interface: add Interests from the sidebar, and configure your AI provider under Settings. If you've already completed the steps, you don't need the onboarding screen again.
7. Can I use Engaggit on multiple computers?
Yes, just install it on each one. Your Interests, keywords, and settings live locally on each machine.
8. Why does the app keep running in the background?
That's by design — Engaggit lives in your system tray so it can scan Reddit on schedule even when you're not looking at it. Right-click the tray icon to scan now, view the feed, or quit completely.
9. I already have an AI provider API key. Can I use it?
Yes, that's perfect. When onboarding reaches the AI provider step, just select your provider and paste your existing key. Full setup details for every provider are in the next article.
Engaggit is a privacy-first, AI-powered Reddit lead generation app. It runs on your machine, keeps your data to yourself, and helps you never miss a relevant conversation again.