Jan
Open-source ChatGPT alternative that downloads and runs LLMs fully offline on your computer, with optional connections to cloud models.
Updated
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About Jan
Jan is listed in our models & local runtimes category and is aimed at people who want a ready-to-use product. Open-source ChatGPT alternative that downloads and runs LLMs fully offline on your computer, with optional connections to cloud models. Pricing, as the maker states it: Open source. Maturity: Mature. We last checked the official link on 2026-10-18.
What is Jan?
Jan is an open-source ChatGPT replacement for your desktop. You can download and run LLMs such as Llama, Gemma, Qwen and gpt-oss from Hugging Face with full control and privacy, or connect to cloud models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Groq and others.
It runs a local OpenAI-compatible API server at localhost:1337 for other apps, supports MCP for agentic features, and is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Sources: the official README and our directory listing, checked 2026-10-18. Official site: jan.ai.
Who is Jan for?
People who want a private, desktop AI chat app that runs models locally, and developers who need a local OpenAI-compatible API.
Jan at a glance
- Open source: Yes (Apache License 2.0)
- GitHub: janhq/jan · 45,027 stars (as of Oct 21, 2026)
Key features
- Download and run local LLMs from Hugging Face
- Connect cloud models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Groq and more
- Custom assistants
- Local OpenAI-compatible API at localhost:1337
- MCP integration
- Windows, macOS and Linux apps
Jan FAQ
What is Jan?
Jan is an open-source ChatGPT replacement for your desktop. You can download and run LLMs such as Llama, Gemma, Qwen and gpt-oss from Hugging Face with full control and privacy, or connect to cloud models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Groq and others.
Who is Jan for?
People who want a private, desktop AI chat app that runs models locally, and developers who need a local OpenAI-compatible API.
Is Jan free?
Jan's pricing, as the maker states it: Open source. Open-source tools are free to use, though you may still pay for model API usage or a hosted plan. Check the official site for current plans.
Is Jan open source?
Yes. Jan is released under the Apache License 2.0, according to its GitHub repository.
What are alternatives to Jan?
Similar tools include Lemonade, Ollama, Sidekick, ASI:One, Oumi and LM Studio.
Jan ratings and reviews
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Jan alternatives
Other models & local runtimes tools in our directory. See all models & local runtimes tools →
Lemonade
Local server that runs optimized LLMs on your GPU or NPU for local AI apps and agents.
Ollama
Runs open models such as Qwen, Gemma, DeepSeek and gpt-oss locally or in Ollama's cloud, and connects them to agents like Claude Code, OpenClaw and Codex.
Sidekick
Native macOS app for chatting offline with a local LLM that can draw on your files, folders and websites.
ASI:One
Agentic LLM and chat app from Fetch.ai built to reason, plan and call other agents on the ASI Alliance network.
Oumi
Open platform for fine-tuning, evaluating and deploying open agentic LLMs and VLMs.
LM Studio
Desktop app for running local and open models, with Bionic, its agent for work and code that creates documents, slides, PDFs and software.
Related lists
🏆 Ranked in: Best Self-Hosted AI Agents
💲 Estimate API cost: compare per-request and monthly costs for GPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok models.
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