Chat with the AI model of your choice
A classic chat window, with the history on the left. You choose the model from a menu, and you can switch mid-conversation without losing the thread. The model can run on your machine or be an online service.
AI tools · On your computer
Open WebUI pricing, use cases, and first steps
Open WebUI is a chat window, like the one in ChatGPT, that you install yourself on a computer or on a company server. It contains no AI: you connect it to an AI model installed on your machine with Ollama, or to an online service. Conversations and documents stay wherever the tool is installed.
Open WebUI has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Standard use, free. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Open WebUIYour own ChatGPT, installed on your computer or in your company- Vendor
- Open WebUI, Inc. (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Standard use, free
- Page checked on
- October 3, 2026
What Open WebUI does
Who it’s for: companies that want an internal assistant whose data never leaves, and curious people who are already comfortable with Ollama.
Ask your documents
You add documents to a knowledge base. When you ask a question, the tool finds the relevant passages and the AI answers from them. You can also attach a document to a single conversation.
Search the web and read a page
If the administrator has connected a search engine, the AI searches the web and cites its sources. You can also give it a specific page to read.
Also
- Compare two models side by side
- Create a specialized assistant
- Talk instead of typing
- A space for the whole team
- Memory and notes
Open WebUI pricing
The vendor publishes no prices. Since version 0.6.6, the license requires keeping the Open WebUI branding beyond 50 users; the vendor states that it is no longer an “open source” license in the strict sense, even though the code remains public.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard use Recommended to start | Free | Individuals and internal company use |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Organizations that want their own branding and hands-on support |
What the free plan includes
The entire software, for personal or internal use, with no time limit. The only condition: keep the Open WebUI name and logo visible. The AI models you connect, however, may be paid.
Nova’s advice
Pay nothing to start: the free version includes everything. The real cost is elsewhere: a computer or server that is powerful enough, and time to install it and keep it up to date. The Enterprise plan only concerns companies that want to remove the branding or get hands-on support.
A first try, in 5 minutes
Your data. Everything is saved where Open WebUI is installed; nothing goes anywhere else, unless you connect an online service.
What it does less well
- Installation is not within a beginner’s reach: it goes through Docker or Python, and the desktop app is still an alpha version.
- It is only a window. With no AI connected, it does nothing. A local model needs a powerful computer and does less well than a major online assistant on difficult tasks.
Ask a first question to an AI model running on your machineOpen WebUI- Open Open WebUI in your browser and log in.
- Click “New Chat” to start a new conversation.
- At the top of the window, open the menu of available models and choose one.
- Paste the prompt below into the message box and send it.
- In the message box, type #: you can attach a document or the address of a web page, then ask a question about it.
The prompt to copy
Write a short email telling the team that Thursday’s meeting is moved to Friday at 10 am, same room. Friendly tone, five lines at most.
Alternatives to Open WebUI
LM Studio
Simpler for one person: an app to install, which downloads the models and lets you chat.
Jan
A free, open app, with no terminal, for chatting with a local model.
AnythingLLM
If your goal is mostly to ask questions about your documents, with a one-click installation.
Msty
To compare local models and online services in a desktop app.
Ollama
The engine that runs AI models on your computer. Open WebUI connects to it.
Frequently asked questions about Open WebUI
How much does Open WebUI cost?
Standard use: free; Enterprise: custom pricing. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Open WebUI for free?
Yes. The entire software, for personal or internal use, with no time limit. The only condition: keep the Open WebUI name and logo visible. The AI models you connect, however, may be paid.
What happens to my data with Open WebUI?
Everything is saved where Open WebUI is installed; nothing goes anywhere else, unless you connect an online service.
What are the alternatives to Open WebUI?
LM Studio: Simpler for one person: an app to install, which downloads the models and lets you chat. Jan: A free, open app, with no terminal, for chatting with a local model. AnythingLLM: If your goal is mostly to ask questions about your documents, with a one-click installation. Msty: To compare local models and online services in a desktop app. Ollama: The engine that runs AI models on your computer. Open WebUI connects to it.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 3, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.