Two folders, side by side.
And you can open them here.

macOS 14 Sonoma or later. It is a universal app that runs on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, so there is only one download. Anything older is blocked from installing — Hoist draws its interface with the web engine built into macOS, and the parts needed to open documents and PDFs only arrived in Sonoma. The installer tells you, so you never end up staring at an empty window.

Yes. There is an installer for Windows 10 and 11 (x64). The download button detects the OS you are on and gives you the right file. Code signing and notarization are a macOS matter, so on Windows you may see a SmartScreen prompt the first time you install.

MP4, MOV, M4V and WebM play with nothing extra. Other formats such as MKV and AVI need conversion, which uses ffmpeg — if your machine already has it, Hoist finds and uses it; if not, one button in the app downloads it (the app itself stays the same size). Converted playback uses the CPU, so there can be a short wait before it starts.

While translating, neither. Translation uses Ollama running on your own machine, so you do need to install Ollama once and download a translation model (several GB). Only that download needs internet.

No. Moving, opening and translating all happen on your own machine. Hoist uses the internet in exactly three places — checking for updates, looking up film and series information (posters, synopsis), and downloading translation models. It does of course talk to any NAS, server or cloud you connect yourself, and casting to a TV sends video through a server the app opens briefly on your local network.

Casting sends the original file to the TV as it is, so subtitles only appear when you play inside the app. Formats your TV does not support (MKV, for example) may not play at all.

The app is code-signed and notarized with Apple, so it installs and runs without warnings. New versions are announced by the app and verified against the signature before installing.

It searches by filename. Type in the search box and it filters the current folder instantly; press Enter and it walks the subfolders, and widening the scope covers everything below. On a Mac it uses the index the OS already keeps, so results are effectively immediate (measured: 330,000 local files in 0.5 s). For a NAS or server it saves the listing it walked once and shows that straight away, while checking the server in the background. What it does not do yet is search inside file contents — it searches names.

Tables (including merged rows and columns), character formatting, alignment and images are reproduced closely, but page breaks, fonts, equations, text boxes and headers are not. Think of it as a way to read, search and copy. Password-protected or distribution-locked documents still need the Hangul app.