AI Chatbots & Assistants
Jan
Open-source, privacy-first alternative to ChatGPT that runs locally on your machine.
Freedesktop
What it does
Jan is an open-source desktop app that runs AI models locally, or connects to cloud APIs if you choose, positioned as a fully offline-capable, privacy-first replacement for cloud chatbots.
This is a direct link to Jan — we don't currently earn anything from it.
Free tier reality
Free and open source with no subscription; using your own cloud API keys instead of local models may incur separate provider costs.
Key features
- Local model chat, works offline
- Open source
- Optional connection to cloud model APIs
- Extensible with plugins
Best for
- Users wanting an offline, privacy-first chatbot
- Developers wanting an open-source ChatGPT alternative
Alternatives
ChatGPT
The original mainstream AI chatbot, from the company that kicked off the current AI boom.
Claude
Anthropic's conversational AI, known for long-context reasoning and careful, well-structured answers.
Gemini
Google's assistant, built into Search, Workspace, and its own standalone app.
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's free AI chat assistant, built on OpenAI's models and woven into Windows, Edge, and Bing.
Jan FAQ
Questions about this tool
Is Jan free?
Yes — Free and open source with no subscription; using your own cloud API keys instead of local models may incur separate provider costs.
What is Jan best for?
Users wanting an offline, privacy-first chatbot Developers wanting an open-source ChatGPT alternative
What platforms does Jan run on?
Jan is available on: desktop.