AI chat apps: 4 tools compared
Desktop, web and self-hosted chat interfaces that connect to one or more LLM APIs. Listed by name. A starting price is the vendor's own, as checked on the date shown; it is not monitored.
Desktop and Docker application from Mintplex Labs for chatting with documents (retrieval-augmented generation) and running agents. It uses either a built-in local model or a connected LLM provider. The Docker version adds multi-user workspaces and permissions, and the vendor also offers hosted instances.
Open sourceSelf-hostableFree tierfrom $50.00 per monthchecked Nov 8, 2026
Works with 12 of the LLM providers we trackOpen-source desktop chat application from Menlo Research. It downloads and runs open-weight language models locally and offline, and can also connect to cloud model APIs with the user's own API keys.
Open sourceSelf-hostableFree tierFree
Works with 8 of the LLM providers we trackOpen-source, self-hosted chat interface that connects to many AI model providers from one application. It includes agents, MCP tool connections, a code interpreter and multi-user authentication. Built-in endpoints and custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints are configured in a librechat.yaml file.
Open sourceSelf-hostableFree tierFree
Works with 12 of the LLM providers we trackSelf-hosted web interface for chatting with language models. It connects to local runtimes such as Ollama and to OpenAI-compatible APIs, and runs on the user's own server or machine (for example with Docker), including fully offline.
Self-hostableFree tierWorks with 9 of the LLM providers we track
| Tool | Pricing model | Free tier | Self-hostable | Open source | Starting price | Works with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AnythingLLMDesktop and Docker application from Mintplex Labs for chatting with documents (retrieval-augmented generation) and running agents. It uses either a built-in local model or a connected LLM provider. The Docker version adds multi-user workspaces and permissions, and the vendor also offers hosted instances. | Free tier and paid plans | Yes | Yes | Yes (MIT) | from $50.00 per monthchecked Nov 8, 2026 | 12 of the LLM providers we track |
 JanOpen-source desktop chat application from Menlo Research. It downloads and runs open-weight language models locally and offline, and can also connect to cloud model APIs with the user's own API keys. | Free and open source | Yes | Yes | Yes (Apache-2.0) | Free | 8 of the LLM providers we track |
 LibreChatOpen-source, self-hosted chat interface that connects to many AI model providers from one application. It includes agents, MCP tool connections, a code interpreter and multi-user authentication. Built-in endpoints and custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints are configured in a librechat.yaml file. | Free and open source | Yes | Yes | Yes (MIT) | Free | 12 of the LLM providers we track |
 Open WebUISelf-hosted web interface for chatting with language models. It connects to local runtimes such as Ollama and to OpenAI-compatible APIs, and runs on the user's own server or machine (for example with Docker), including fully offline. | Free tier and paid plans | Yes | Yes | No (Open WebUI License) | — | 9 of the LLM providers we track |
