Alternatives · AI Assistants
Jan alternatives
Jan compared with 10 alternatives: LM Studio, Msty, AnythingLLM, Open WebUI, Cherry Studio and 5 more.
Jan is free to use. 9 of the 10 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
10 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| JanThis tool | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| LM Studio | Free plan · from $20/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Msty | Free plan · from $149/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| AnythingLLM | Free plan · from $50/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android |
| Open WebUI | Free plan | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Cherry Studio | Free plan | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Chatbox | Free plan · from $3.50/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Locally AI | Free | Free | macOS, iOS |
| PocketPal AI | Free plan · from $0.99 one-time | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Private LLM | From $4.99 one-time | No | macOS, iOS |
| PyGPT | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
How each one differs from Jan
- Free plan · from $20/mo
LM Studio
Desktop app for running open AI models on your own computer
- LM Studio starts at $20 per month (Bionic+, for cloud models). Jan is free.
- Jan is open source, according to its own site.
- LM Studio also covers AI agents.
- Jan also covers AI search.
Suits: Running open models privately on a Mac, Windows or Linux computer
- Free plan · from $149/yr
Msty
Private AI workspace for local and online models
- Msty starts at $149 per user / year (Aurum), or $349 one-time (Aurum Lifetime). Jan is free.
- Only Msty lists a web app.
- Msty can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Jan is open source, according to its own site.
- Msty also covers AI agents.
Suits: Individuals who want local and hosted models in one desktop app
- Free plan · from $50/mo
AnythingLLM
Open-source AI app for documents, agents and local models
- AnythingLLM starts at $50 per month (Basic hosted cloud instance). Jan is free.
- Only AnythingLLM lists a web app.
- Only AnythingLLM lists an Android app.
- AnythingLLM is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- AnythingLLM also covers meeting notes and AI agents.
Suits: Chatting with private documents without sending them to a cloud service
- Free plan
Open WebUI
Self-hosted chat interface for local and cloud AI models
- Only Open WebUI lists a web app.
- Open WebUI is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Jan is open source, according to its own site.
- Open WebUI also covers AI agents.
Suits: Teams that want a chat interface running on their own infrastructure
- Free plan
Cherry Studio
Open-source desktop AI client for 50+ model providers
- Only Cherry Studio lists iOS and Android apps.
- Cherry Studio also covers AI agents.
- Jan also covers AI search.
Suits: People who already hold API keys for several model providers
- Free plan · from $3.50/mo
Chatbox
AI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan
- Chatbox starts at $3.50 per month, billed annually ($3.99 billed monthly). Jan is free.
- Only Chatbox lists a web app.
- Only Chatbox lists iOS and Android apps.
- Chatbox also covers AI agents.
Suits: People who want the same chat app on desktop, phone and browser
- Free
Locally AI
Free app that runs open AI models offline on iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Locally AI is free. Jan is free.
- Only Locally AI lists an iOS app.
- Only Jan lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Jan is open source, according to its own site.
- Jan also covers AI search.
Suits: Trying open models on an iPhone, iPad or Mac at no cost
- Free plan · from $0.99 one-time
PocketPal AI
Open-source app for running AI models offline on phones and tablets
- PocketPal AI starts at $0.99 per premium Pal, one-time (US App Store in-app purchase). Jan is free.
- Only PocketPal AI lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Jan lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Jan also covers AI search.
Suits: Running open models privately on an iPhone, iPad or Android phone
- From $4.99 one-time
Private LLM
Offline AI chat app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with a one-time price
- Private LLM starts at $4.99 one-time (US App Store). Jan is free.
- Jan has a free plan. Private LLM does not.
- Only Private LLM lists an iOS app.
- Only Jan lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Private LLM can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Apple users who want AI chat that never leaves the device
- Free
PyGPT
Open-source desktop AI assistant with agents, RAG and local models
- PyGPT is free. Jan is free.
- PyGPT also covers AI agents.
Suits: Technical users who want one desktop app for many model providers
Limits worth knowing in Jan
- Desktop only, on macOS, Windows and Linux. Intel-based Macs are not supported.
- Local models need memory: Jan's Mac guide suggests 8GB of RAM for 3B models, 16GB for 7B models and 32GB for 13B models.
- Cloud models need your own API key from each provider, and those providers see the messages you send them.
- Cowork and the standalone Jan Agent are previews on nightly builds, and the memory feature is marked as coming soon.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Jan?
The alternatives to Jan in this directory are LM Studio, Msty, AnythingLLM, Open WebUI, Cherry Studio, Chatbox, Locally AI, PocketPal AI, Private LLM and PyGPT. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Jan.
Is there a free alternative to Jan?
Yes. Locally AI and PyGPT are free to use. LM Studio, Msty, AnythingLLM, Open WebUI, Cherry Studio, Chatbox and PocketPal AI have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Jan alternatives work on Android?
The Jan listing does not include an Android app. AnythingLLM, Cherry Studio, Chatbox and PocketPal AI list one.
Which Jan alternatives work on iOS?
The Jan listing does not include an iOS app. Cherry Studio, Chatbox, Locally AI, PocketPal AI and Private LLM list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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