Alternatives to Open WebUI

A self-hosted chat interface that talks to Ollama and any OpenAI-compatible API, so your local models get a proper front end. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Open WebUI.

  • AnythingLLM

    A desktop AI app that answers questions about your own documents, with no account and no API key needed.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    AnythingLLM is a desktop app under the MIT license with chat, vector database and document pipeline in one install, so there is no server to run but also no multi-user roles.

  • LM Studio

    A polished desktop app for downloading, running and chatting with local language models, with an OpenAI-compatible server built in.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    LM Studio is a closed-source desktop app that downloads and runs local models itself and serves them over OpenAI-compatible endpoints, instead of a self-hosted multi-user web interface.

  • Jan

    An open-source ChatGPT replacement that runs entirely offline, and can also front cloud providers when you want them.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Jan is an Apache 2.0 desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux that runs models offline and fronts cloud APIs, but it is single-user and still pre-1.0.

  • Msty

    Desktop workspace for chatting with local and hosted AI models in one place.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Msty is a closed-source desktop workspace that runs local models without a separate server and organises chats and knowledge bases, with the more capable features behind a paid plan.

  • Chatbox

    A desktop and mobile chat client for AI models, where you supply your own API keys or point it at a local model.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Chatbox is a GPL-licensed desktop and mobile client that stores conversations locally, but it cannot run models itself and lacks the multi-user roles and permissions of Open WebUI.

  • Cherry Studio

    Use several AI providers from one desktop chat application.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Cherry Studio is a free AGPL-3.0 desktop chat app for several providers and local model servers, with document conversations, replacing a self-hosted web server with a desktop install.

  • TextGen

    Chat with local language models using the TextGen desktop interface.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    TextGen is an AGPL-3.0 desktop interface that runs local language models itself with portable builds, rather than acting as a front end for Ollama or other APIs.

  • GPT4All

    A local AI chat app with document chat built in, from Nomic AI. Stable, MIT licensed, but not updated since early 2025.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    GPT4All is an MIT-licensed desktop app with LocalDocs that runs on CPU without a GPU, though its latest release dates from February 2025 and it has no multi-user support.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Open WebUI as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Alpaca

    A GNOME desktop app for managing and chatting with local AI models through Ollama.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Open WebUI is a self-hosted web interface for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs with multi-user support, but it is a server you run and secure yourself.

  • Hollama

    A minimal chat interface for language models that runs entirely in the web browser.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Open WebUI is a fuller self-hosted server with document retrieval, multi-user roles and OpenAI-compatible APIs, but its license adds a branding condition.

  • KoboldAI Lite

    A standalone browser interface for chatting with and writing alongside language models from many backends.

    FreeProprietaryWeb

    Open WebUI is a self-hosted server with document retrieval and multi-user roles for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs, requiring you to run it yourself.

  • Kotaemon

    An open-source, self-hosted RAG app for chatting with your documents using local or hosted models.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Open WebUI is a self-hosted multi-user chat interface with document retrieval for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs, under a licence with a branding condition.

  • Ollama App

    A cross-platform chat client for talking to language models running on an Ollama server.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinuxAndroid

    Open WebUI is a self-hosted web server for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs with document retrieval and multi-user roles.

  • Open Notebook

    Self-hosted, open source alternative to Google's NotebookLM.

    FreeOpen sourceWebSelf-hosted

    Open WebUI is a self-hosted chat interface with document upload and retrieval plus multi-user roles, but its license adds a branding condition.

  • Page Assist

    An open-source browser extension that adds a sidebar and web UI for chatting with local AI models.

    FreeOpen sourceBrowser extension

    Open WebUI is a self-hosted chat server for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs with document retrieval and multi-user roles, replacing the browser sidebar with a web app.

  • SillyTavern

    A locally-installed front end for language models aimed at long-form roleplay and character-driven writing.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted

    Open WebUI is a self-hosted multi-user chat interface for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs with document retrieval, aimed at general chat rather than roleplay prompt control.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.