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Jan

Open-source desktop app for running local and cloud AI models

FreeAI AssistantsChecked Oct 5, 2026
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Jan, as pictured on jan.ai
How Jan presents itself. Image from jan.ai.

What is Jan?

Jan is an open-source desktop app from Menlo Research for chatting with AI models. It downloads and runs open models on your own computer, where they keep working offline, and it can also connect to cloud providers such as OpenAI and Anthropic with your own API key. The app adds projects, custom assistants, MCP connectors, built-in web search and a local OpenAI-compatible API server. It is free and licensed under Apache 2.0.

Jan is free to use. See every plan

Good for

  • Running open models offline on your own computer
  • People who want one desktop app for local and cloud models
  • Developers who want a local OpenAI-compatible endpoint

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Key features

Local models
Downloads and runs open models such as Llama, Gemma and Qwen from Hugging Face using llama.cpp or MLX. The Hub shows whether each model fits your hardware.
Cloud providers with your own key
Connects to OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Mistral AI, Groq, OpenRouter and Azure OpenAI, or to any OpenAI- or Anthropic-compatible endpoint, using an API key you supply.
Built-in web search
Web search and page fetch tools are on by default for models that support tool use. They run through a keyless Exa endpoint, so no API key or MCP server is needed.
Projects and assistants
Projects group conversations under shared instructions and files, and custom assistants keep their own instructions for recurring kinds of work.
Local API server
A built-in OpenAI-compatible server at localhost:1337 lets other applications use the models running in Jan, and Claude Code can be set to use them as its backend.
MCP connectors and Cowork preview
MCP servers add tools such as code execution and databases. Cowork, which works through multi-step tasks on files and commands, ships only in nightly builds as a preview.

Jan pricing

Starts at
Free
Free plan
Jan is free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license, and no account is needed. Cloud models need an API key from the provider you connect.
Free trial
None listed
Free$0The full desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux, with local models, cloud provider connections and the local API server.

Read from jan.ai on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Jan before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Works with

Jan alternatives

All Jan alternatives comparedAll AI assistants

Common questions

Is Jan free?

Yes. Jan is free to use. Jan is free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license, and no account is needed. Cloud models need an API key from the provider you connect.

How much does Jan cost?

Jan lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from jan.ai on Oct 5, 2026.

What platforms does Jan work on?

Jan is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.

Does Jan have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Jan is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.

Does Jan have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Jan is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.

Is Jan open source?

Yes. Jan is open source, according to its own site.

Does Jan work offline?

Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.

Does Jan have an API?

Yes. Jan offers a public API, according to its own site.

What does Jan integrate with?

Jan's listing names OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Mistral AI, Groq, OpenRouter, Hugging Face and Claude Code. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes Jan?

Jan is made by Menlo Research.

What are the alternatives to Jan?

The closest alternatives to Jan in our directory are LM Studio, Msty, AnythingLLM, Open WebUI and Cherry Studio. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Jan.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.