The NextChat Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about NextChat 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.
NextChat
The Insider’s Guide
Lightweight open-source AI chat client you can self-deploy
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from NextChat’s own pages.
Made by GPTsMotion Tech LLC · checked Oct 6, 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 NextChat’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on NextChat’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade
NextChat is an open-source AI chat interface, released under the MIT License, that supports Claude, DeepSeek, GPT and Gemini models through your own API keys. It can be deployed to Vercel in one click or self-hosted, and it also ships as a small desktop client for Windows, macOS and Linux and as an iPhone app. The hosted service at nextchat.club adds pay-as-you-go credits for people who do not want to manage their own keys.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about NextChat, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Vercel makes the deploy one click, but it's still wiring things up.
- 1
Best for a small chat client you deploy yourself
NextChat is a small open-source chat window for people who already have API keys: plug in OpenAI, Claude, Gemini or DeepSeek, from a desktop app of about 5 MB or your own copy on Vercel.
- 2
There is a free plan
The MIT-licensed app is free to deploy or self-host and the desktop clients are free to download; you supply your own API keys.
- 3
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS.
- 4
One-click deployment
Deploy your own instance to Vercel in under a minute, or self-host it, and restrict access with passwords set through an environment variable.
- 5
Desktop, web and iPhone clients
A compact desktop client of about 5 MB for Windows, macOS and Linux, a responsive web app that installs as a PWA, and an iPhone app on the App Store.
- 6
Many providers and self-hosted models
Works with Claude, DeepSeek, GPT and Gemini models and Azure endpoints, and is compatible with self-deployed models through RWKV-Runner or LocalAI.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 30 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace NextChat 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.
NextChat at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS
- Made by
- GPTsMotion Tech LLC
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a small chat client you deploy yourself
NextChat is a small open-source chat window for people who already have API keys: plug in OpenAI, Claude, Gemini or DeepSeek, from a desktop app of about 5 MB or your own copy on Vercel. The app is free, but every message is billed by your provider, hosted credits only show a price at checkout, there's no Android app, and chatting with your own documents is still on the roadmap.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | The app costs nothing under the MIT licence, which undercuts everything in this category. Every message is still billed by whichever provider's key you plug in, and the hosted credits on nextchat.club only show a price at checkout after you sign in. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright under the MIT licence, deployed or self-hosted, with free desktop clients and nothing in the app held back. The cost sits elsewhere: you bring API keys and each provider bills what you use. |
| Features | C | The basics, done lightly: Claude, GPT, Gemini and DeepSeek through your keys, prompt templates called masks, an artifacts window, plugins for web search. The listing's own gaps tell the story, with a local knowledge base still on the roadmap and MCP needing a build-time switch. |
| Ease of use | C | No rating on record, and the free route means fetching your own API keys, with a deployment on top if you want it on the web and an environment variable for the access password. Vercel makes the deploy one click, but it's still wiring things up. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, Windows, Mac and Linux, plus an iPhone app, and it talks to OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Azure OpenAI and LocalAI. No Android app on the listing, though the web app installs as a PWA. |
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 NextChat is for
- Fits if you already have API keys and want a small window to use them in
- Works for one deployment shared with friends or a team behind a password
Who it is not for
- Skip it if getting API keys sounds like homework, because the free app does nothing without them
- Not for you if you want to see prices first, as hosted credits are only priced at checkout after sign-in
- Too light for chatting with your own documents, since a local knowledge base is still on the roadmap
- Watch out: MCP needs a build-time switch, and branding, permissions and auditing are Enterprise, sold by inquiry
- Skip it if you're on Android, as there's no app, only the web app installed as a PWA
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who want a lightweight chat interface they can deploy themselves
- People with their own API keys who want a small cross-platform client
- Sharing one deployment with others behind an access password
Worth knowing
- Credit prices for the hosted service are shown only at checkout after sign-in; the site publishes no price list.
- The self-hosted app and desktop clients need your own API keys, and each model provider bills usage.
- A local knowledge base is still an open item on the project roadmap.
- Brand customization, permission control and security auditing belong to the Enterprise Edition, which is sold by inquiry.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
3
plans to choose from
NextChat has a free plan.
The app costs nothing under the MIT licence, which undercuts everything in this category.
Open source
$0
The MIT-licensed web app, deployed to Vercel in one click or self-hosted, plus desktop clients for Windows, macOS and Linux. You supply your own API keys.
Hosted credits
Pay as you go
Hosted models on nextchat.club are paid for with prepaid credits and no subscription. Prices and credit amounts are shown at checkout after sign-in.
Enterprise Edition
Custom
Private deployment with brand customization, central management of AI resources, permission control, a company knowledge base and security auditing.
The free plan
The MIT-licensed app is free to deploy or self-host and the desktop clients are free to download; you supply your own API keys.
Read from github.com on Oct 6, 2026.
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 iOS
Lightweight open-source AI chat client you can self-deploy. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, local-first, AI features, chat assistant.
The listing's own gaps tell the story, with a local knowledge base still on the roadmap and MCP needing a build-time switch.
- One-click deployment
- Deploy your own instance to Vercel in under a minute, or self-host it, and restrict access with passwords set through an environment variable.
- Desktop, web and iPhone clients
- A compact desktop client of about 5 MB for Windows, macOS and Linux, a responsive web app that installs as a PWA, and an iPhone app on the App Store.
- Many providers and self-hosted models
- Works with Claude, DeepSeek, GPT and Gemini models and Azure endpoints, and is compatible with self-deployed models through RWKV-Runner or LocalAI.
- Prompt templates
- Create, share and debug chat tools built on predefined prompts, called masks, with a built-in library of community prompts to start from.
- Artifacts and plugins
- Preview, copy and share generated content and web pages in a separate window, and add plugins such as network search and a calculator. MCP support is switched on at build time.
- Local storage and history compression
- All data is stored locally in the browser, and long conversations are compressed automatically to keep context while saving tokens.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
What it works with
- OpenAI
- Claude
- Google Gemini
- DeepSeek
- Azure OpenAI
- LocalAI
NextChat is made by GPTsMotion Tech LLC.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
30/57
Other AI assistants it is graded above
NextChat's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 43 of 57) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. NextChat’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 34 of 57
- AFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 57
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 57
- CEase of useAbove 3 of 57
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 23 of 57
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 NextChat 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.
NextChat 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.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, OpenAI, Claude and Google Gemini among them.
What this rests on. NextChat’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
LibreChat, Open WebUI, Big-AGI, Chatbox and TypingMind
The 5 tools NextChat is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
LibreChat
Free
Open-source, self-hosted chat interface for many AI providers.
- Only NextChat lists macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS apps.
- LibreChat also covers AI search and AI agents.
- 3.2GPA
Open WebUI
Free plan
Self-hosted chat interface for local and cloud AI models.
- Only NextChat lists an iOS app.
- NextChat is open source, according to its own site.
- Open WebUI also covers AI search and AI agents.
- 2.4GPA
Big-AGI
Free plan · from $9/mo
Multi-model AI workspace that compares and merges answers.
- Only NextChat lists macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS apps.
- 3.4GPA
Chatbox
Free plan · from $3.50/mo
AI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan.
- Only Chatbox lists an Android app.
- NextChat is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Chatbox also covers AI search and AI agents.
- 2.8GPA
TypingMind
Free plan · from $39 one-time
Chat interface for AI models that runs on your own API keys.
- Only NextChat lists macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS apps.
- NextChat is open source, according to its own site.
- TypingMind can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
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 NextChat free?
NextChat has a free plan. The MIT-licensed app is free to deploy or self-host and the desktop clients are free to download; you supply your own API keys.
How much does NextChat cost?
NextChat lists 3 plans. Open source: $0.
What platforms does NextChat work on?
NextChat is available on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS.
Does NextChat have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. NextChat is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS.
Is NextChat open source?
Yes. NextChat is open source, according to its own site.
What does NextChat integrate with?
NextChat's listing names OpenAI, Claude, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, Azure OpenAI and LocalAI.
Who makes NextChat?
NextChat is made by GPTsMotion Tech LLC.
What are the alternatives to NextChat?
The closest alternatives to NextChat in our directory are LibreChat, Open WebUI, Big-AGI, Chatbox and TypingMind.
How does NextChat compare with other AI assistants?
NextChat's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
Could I make my own version of NextChat?
To replace NextChat 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 NextChat’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from NextChat's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-06.
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 GPTsMotion Tech LLC. Prices change, so check nextchat.club before you buy.
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
- NextChat, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/nextchat
- 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, "NextChat: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/nextchat
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/nextchat/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after NextChat, 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 NextChat’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. NextChat is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by GPTsMotion Tech LLC. Prices and plans change: check nextchat.club before you buy.