The AnythingLLM Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about AnythingLLM in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
AnythingLLM
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source AI app for documents, agents and local models
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from AnythingLLM’s own pages.
Made by Mintplex Labs, Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from AnythingLLM’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on AnythingLLM’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 48 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade
AnythingLLM is an open-source AI application from Mintplex Labs for chatting with local or cloud models, your own documents and AI agents. The free desktop app runs on the device with no account and includes a meeting assistant, web search and system-wide dictation and autocomplete tools. Teams can self-host a multi-user version with Docker at no charge or pay for a hosted cloud instance, and an Android app runs small models on the phone.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about AnythingLLM, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The desktop app suggests a local model to suit your hardware and wants no key and no account, so it's install and go.
- 1
Best for chatting with your own documents on your own machine
AnythingLLM is a free, open-source app for chatting with your own documents, using models on your computer or ones you connect by key, and the desktop app processes documents on the device.
- 2
Paid plans start at $50 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $50 per month (Basic hosted cloud instance).
- 3
There is a free plan
The desktop app is free for personal and commercial use with no account, and the MIT-licensed multi-user version can be self-hosted with Docker at no charge.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and Web.
- 5
Chat with your documents
Documents you add become part of the assistant's knowledge base. In the desktop app they are processed on the device and no data leaves it.
- 6
Local or cloud models
Recommends a local model to suit your hardware and needs no API key, and can also connect cloud providers such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
- 7
Agents and custom skills
Agents can search and scrape the web, read, write and search local files, run recurring background jobs and use custom agent skills.
- 8
A 3.2 GPA, above 48 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace AnythingLLM you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
AnythingLLM at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $50 per month (Basic hosted cloud instance)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android
- Made by
- Mintplex Labs, Inc.
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for chatting with your own documents on your own machine
AnythingLLM is a free, open-source app for chatting with your own documents, using models on your computer or ones you connect by key, and the desktop app processes documents on the device. But the hosted workspace is $50 a month with no model, no MCP and no GPU, the mobile app is Android only, and the plan that lifts the Magic tools' daily limits has no readable price.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The desktop app costs nothing and the multi-user version is MIT-licensed, free to self-host. What's sold is hosting: $50 a month, or $99 with priority resources, which is three times this category's dearest quarter, and you still bring your own model key. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free for personal and commercial use with no account. Only the Magic tools, dictation and autocomplete, come with daily limits. The models are on you: a local one is free, a cloud key isn't. |
| Features | C | It does the chat-with-your-documents job fully, and that's a smaller job than a general assistant: no image generation, no voice. The hosted cloud has no model and no MCP, the Magic features are Windows and macOS only, and mobile is Android only. |
| Ease of use | B | The desktop app suggests a local model to suit your hardware and wants no key and no account, so it's install and go. No rating on record to go by. The team version is Docker, which is a different sort of evening. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Mac, Windows and Linux, plus an Android app that runs small models on the phone, and it connects to OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, LM Studio, OpenRouter and Bedrock. There's no iPhone app, and the Magic features are desktop only. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who AnythingLLM is for
- Fits if you want to ask questions of private documents without sending them to a cloud service
- Works for teams that want their own AI workspace, self-hosted with Docker or hosted for them
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want it on an iPhone, because the mobile app is Android only
- Pricey if you're one person wanting it hosted, at $50 a month before you've paid for a model
- Not for you if you need custom agents or MCP on the hosted cloud, as neither is supported there
- Watch out: the Magic tools have daily free limits, work on Windows and macOS only, and the plan that lifts them has no readable price
- Tight if you embed big files on the hosted cloud, since instances have no GPU and the docs warn large documents can crash the lower tier
Good to know
Good for
- Chatting with private documents without sending them to a cloud service
- Teams that want a self-hosted, multi-user AI workspace
- Meeting transcripts and summaries produced on the device
Worth knowing
- The hosted cloud has no built-in LLM and does not support custom agents or MCP; you connect your own model provider.
- Magic Echo, Beacon and Tab have daily free limits. The Pro subscription that removes them is priced on a checkout page that could not be read.
- Magic features and AnythingLLM Pro work on Windows and macOS only, and the mobile app is for Android only.
- Hosted cloud instances have no GPU, and the docs warn that embedding very large documents can crash an instance on the lower tier.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$50
A month to start. There is a free plan too
AnythingLLM has a free plan. Paid plans start at $50 per month (Basic hosted cloud instance).
The desktop app costs nothing and the multi-user version is MIT-licensed, free to self-host.
Desktop and self-hosted
$0
The desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux with no account, or the multi-user version self-hosted with Docker. Magic features have daily free limits.
Basic (Cloud)
$50
per month
A private hosted instance on a custom subdomain for independent use or small teams, with RAG and agents set up. You bring your own LLM API key.
Pro (Cloud)
$99
per month
A private hosted instance with priority resources for larger teams and a 72-hour support SLA.
Enterprise
Custom
On-premise deployment with a custom SLA, custom integrations, SSO and role-based access control.
The free plan
The desktop app is free for personal and commercial use with no account, and the MIT-licensed multi-user version can be self-hosted with Docker at no charge.
Read from anythingllm.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
Free self-hosting with Docker
The multi-user version sold as hosted cloud plans from $50 a month can instead be self-hosted with Docker for free under the MIT license.
Stated on anythingllm.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux and Android
Open-source AI app for documents, agents and local models. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, local-first, AI features, meeting notes, chat assistant, AI agents.
It does the chat-with-your-documents job fully, and that's a smaller job than a general assistant: no image generation, no voice.
- Chat with your documents
- Documents you add become part of the assistant's knowledge base. In the desktop app they are processed on the device and no data leaves it.
- Local or cloud models
- Recommends a local model to suit your hardware and needs no API key, and can also connect cloud providers such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
- Agents and custom skills
- Agents can search and scrape the web, read, write and search local files, run recurring background jobs and use custom agent skills.
- Meeting Assistant
- Transcribes and summarizes meetings on your own computer, producing action items, key decisions and a full transcript with no bot joining the call.
- Magic Echo, Beacon and Tab
- System-wide dictation, questions about highlighted text and autocomplete on Windows and macOS. Each has a daily free allowance that an AnythingLLM Pro subscription removes.
- Multi-user deployment
- The Docker and hosted cloud versions serve several users on one server with isolated tenants, fine-grained admin controls and white-label branding.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
What it works with
- OpenAI
- Anthropic
- Ollama
- LM Studio
- OpenRouter
- AWS Bedrock
- You.com
- Microsoft Foundry Local
Who makes AnythingLLM
Mintplex Labs, Inc. makes AnythingLLM, an open-source AI assistant that runs models on the user's own hardware. The desktop app is free and MIT-licensed; the company earns from a Pro key, an AnythingLLM Cloud subscription and an enterprise platform.
- Based
- Los Angelesycombinator.com
- Ownership
- Privately held. Privately held: Y Combinator, which backs the companies in its batches, lists AnythingLLM as part of its Summer 2022 batch. No parent company is named on its own pages.ycombinator.com
- Funding
- No round or amount has been announced. Y Combinator lists AnythingLLM, the product of Mintplex Labs, as a company from its Summer 2022 batch.ycombinator.com
- Founders and leaders
- Timothy Carambat, Founderycombinator.com
- Hiring
- Its Careers link points to the Y Combinator board for AnythingLLM, which showed no open roles.ycombinator.com
- Lately
- Why AnythingLLM is moving from Ollama to Lemonade and llama.cpp · October 2026
- How we build the best on-device meeting assistant · October 2026
- AnythingLLM and You.com bring real-time web search to everyone · September 2026
- AnythingLLM now runs Microsoft Foundry Local on every Windows PC · September 2026
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
48/57
Other AI assistants it is graded above
AnythingLLM's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 48 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 43 of 57) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $50 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 38 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 20 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. AnythingLLM’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 38 of 57
- AFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 57
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 57
- BEase of useAbove 21 of 57
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 23 of 57
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 45 AI assistants. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. AnythingLLM is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace AnythingLLM you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 48 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade. It costs $600 a year. AnythingLLM is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- A bot that joins your calls and turns the talk into notes.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, OpenAI, Anthropic and Ollama among them.
What this rests on. AnythingLLM’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Open WebUI, LM Studio, Jan, Msty and LibreChat
The 5 tools AnythingLLM is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Open WebUI
Free plan
Self-hosted chat interface for local and cloud AI models.
- Only AnythingLLM lists an Android app.
- AnythingLLM is open source, according to its own site.
- AnythingLLM also covers meeting notes.
- 3.0GPA
LM Studio
Free plan · from $20/mo
Desktop app for running open AI models on your own computer.
- Only AnythingLLM lists a web app.
- Only AnythingLLM lists an Android app.
- AnythingLLM is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.0GPA
Jan
Free
Open-source desktop app for running local and cloud AI models.
- Only AnythingLLM lists a web app.
- Only AnythingLLM lists an Android app.
- AnythingLLM is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Msty
Free plan · from $149/yr
Private AI workspace for local and online models.
- Only AnythingLLM lists an Android app.
- AnythingLLM is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Msty can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
LibreChat
Free
Open-source, self-hosted chat interface for many AI providers.
- Only AnythingLLM lists macOS, Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- AnythingLLM also covers meeting notes.
- LibreChat also covers AI search.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is AnythingLLM free?
AnythingLLM has a free plan. The desktop app is free for personal and commercial use with no account, and the MIT-licensed multi-user version can be self-hosted with Docker at no charge.
How much does AnythingLLM cost?
AnythingLLM lists 4 plans. Desktop and self-hosted: $0.
What platforms does AnythingLLM work on?
AnythingLLM is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and Web.
Does AnythingLLM offer any discounts?
AnythingLLM publicly lists the following: Free self-hosting with Docker.
Does AnythingLLM have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. AnythingLLM is listed for macOS, Windows, Linux, Android and Web.
Is AnythingLLM open source?
Yes. AnythingLLM is open source, according to its own site.
What does AnythingLLM integrate with?
AnythingLLM's listing names OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, LM Studio, OpenRouter, AWS Bedrock, You.com and Microsoft Foundry Local.
Who makes AnythingLLM?
AnythingLLM is made by Mintplex Labs, Inc. Privately held: Y Combinator, which backs the companies in its batches, lists AnythingLLM as part of its Summer 2022 batch.
What are the alternatives to AnythingLLM?
The closest alternatives to AnythingLLM in our directory are Open WebUI, LM Studio, Jan, Msty and LibreChat.
How does AnythingLLM compare with other AI assistants?
AnythingLLM's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 48 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 4.
Is AnythingLLM good value for money?
ToolGPA grades AnythingLLM A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $50 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 38 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of AnythingLLM?
To replace AnythingLLM you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from AnythingLLM’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from AnythingLLM's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-13.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Mintplex Labs, Inc. Prices change, so check anythingllm.com before you buy.
- anythingllm.com/cloud
- anythingllm.com/
- anythingllm.com/download
- anythingllm.com/mobile
- anythingllm.com/alternatives/msty
- anythingllm.com/alternatives/wispr-flow
- docs.anythingllm.com/introduction
- docs.anythingllm.com/pro/overview
- docs.anythingllm.com/pro/getting-started
- docs.anythingllm.com/pro/manage-subscription
- docs.anythingllm.com/cloud/limitations
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- AnythingLLM, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/anythingllm
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "AnythingLLM: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/anythingllm
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/anythingllm/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after AnythingLLM, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Assistants Insider's GuideEvery one of the 58 AI assistants we grade, compared
- Gemini Insider's GuideGoogle's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps3.8 GPA
- Chatbox Insider's GuideAI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan3.4 GPA
- ChatGPT Insider's GuideOpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what AnythingLLM’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. AnythingLLM is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Mintplex Labs, Inc. Prices and plans change: check anythingllm.com before you buy.