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Jan Review

Jan is a ChatGPT-alternative that operates entirely offline, ensuring full user control and privacy.

shipped Jul 3, 2026aifree
ai
Jan — product screenshot

Why it matters

1Free and open-source desktop application under the Apache 2.0 license.
2Enables 100% offline execution of large language models on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
3Accumulated over 5.3 million downloads and 41,000+ GitHub Stars as of April 2026.
4Provides a local OpenAI-compatible API for integration and custom AI assistant creation.

About Jan

Business Model
Open Source
Platforms
Web, Linux, Mac
Target Audience
Individuals looking for a personal AI assistant that prioritizes privacy
API DocsGitHubOpen Source

Specs

API Docs

View Documentation →

API Available

Yes, public API

overview

What is Jan?

Jan is an open-source AI chat interface tool developed by Jan that enables users to run large language models entirely offline on their computer. It provides a ChatGPT-style experience, prioritizing user control and data privacy by keeping AI interactions local. Jan AI is a free, open-source desktop application that allows users to run large language models (LLMs) entirely on their local computer, prioritizing privacy and data control. It serves as an offline alternative to cloud-based AI services like ChatGPT. This platform is accessible as a desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Jan supports running various local models without complex setup, offering a free solution for private AI conversations. Beyond offline functionality, it also allows for integration with cloud-based LLMs and the creation of custom assistants. Jan also functions as an application framework for building AI-native tools.

features

Key Features of Jan

Jan offers a comprehensive set of features designed for local, private, and customizable AI interactions, catering to both end-users and developers.

  • Open-source and free to use under the Apache 2.0 license.
  • Offline execution of large language models (LLMs) on local hardware.
  • Support for multiple model integrations, including Llama3, Mistral, Gemma, Qwen, GPT-oss, and optional cloud-based LLMs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Groq, Cohere).
  • User-friendly desktop UI for Windows, macOS, and Linux, designed to mimic the ChatGPT experience.
  • Local OpenAI-compatible API server for application integration and development.
  • Creation of custom AI assistants with specific system prompts and tool configurations.
  • Memory feature to maintain conversation context across interactions.
  • Functions as an application framework for building AI-native tools.
  • "Chat with Files" feature for interacting with local documents such as PDFs and notes.
  • Introduced navigable message version branching and a unified reasoning/tool chain-of-thought timeline in Jan v0.8.3.

use cases

Who Should Use Jan?

Jan is designed for a diverse range of users who prioritize privacy, control, and local execution of AI models.

  • Non-technical users seeking accessible AI interactions without sending data to external servers.
  • Regulated businesses (e.g., law firms, medical practices, financial advisors) requiring data privacy and secure handling of sensitive information.
  • Technically inclined users, developers, and power users desiring control, experimentation, and local LLM development.
  • Individuals and businesses handling sensitive or proprietary data who need to keep AI interactions entirely local.
  • Users interested in developing AI applications and workflows without cloud dependencies, utilizing a local OpenAI-compatible API.

how to use

How to Use Jan

Jan is a desktop application that allows users to download and run various large language models locally. Users can get started by downloading the application for their operating system and selecting models to run offline.

  • 1Download the Jan desktop application for Windows, macOS, or Linux from jan.ai.
  • 2Install the application on your local computer following the provided instructions.
  • 3Browse and download desired open-source large language models (e.g., Llama3, Mistral, Gemma) directly within the application's interface.
  • 4Start a new chat to interact with the locally running AI model, ensuring all conversations remain on your device.
  • 5Configure custom assistants with specific prompts and tool configurations, or integrate with the local OpenAI-compatible API for advanced workflows.
  • 6Utilize features like "Chat with Files" to interact with local documents such as PDFs for summaries or insights.

pricing

Jan Pricing & Plans

Jan is a free and open-source application released under the Apache 2.0 license. There are no subscription fees, usage costs, or hidden charges for its core functionality, which includes running LLMs offline, utilizing the local OpenAI-compatible API, and creating custom assistants. All features are available without financial cost.

  • Free: $0 - Includes open-source core, offline LLM execution, privacy-first design, local OpenAI-compatible API, custom assistants, and desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Pros

  • +100% offline operation ensures complete data privacy and user control, crucial for sensitive data.
  • +Free and open-source under the Apache 2.0 license, eliminating costs for core functionalities.
  • +User-friendly desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux, mimicking ChatGPT's intuitive UI.
  • +Includes a local OpenAI-compatible API for seamless integration with existing tools and workflows.
  • +Supports a wide range of open-source LLMs (e.g., Llama3, Mistral, Gemma) and offers optional cloud bridges.
  • +Functions as an extensible application framework for building AI-native tools and custom assistants.

Cons

  • −Performance is dependent on local hardware specifications (CPU, GPU, RAM), potentially limiting larger models on older systems.
  • −Requires manual download and management of individual LLM files, which can be time-consuming.
  • −May consume significant local storage for downloaded models, especially with multiple large LLMs.
  • −Advanced features like multi-token prediction or specific backend support (e.g., AMD ROCm/HIP) are tied to specific version updates.
  • −While offering cloud bridges, its primary strength is offline, which might limit access to the latest or most powerful cloud-only models.
  • −Users must ensure their system meets the minimum requirements for running larger models efficiently to avoid performance issues.

Similar Tools

Jan vs Competitors

Jan is positioned as a leading open-source, privacy-focused alternative to cloud-based AI services and other local LLM runners, emphasizing its comprehensive desktop experience and framework capabilities.

1
LM StudioOn StorkCompare

LM Studio provides a user-friendly desktop application for discovering, downloading, and running various large language models locally on your computer.

Similar to Jan, LM Studio focuses on enabling local LLM execution on desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and offers a free solution. While Jan emphasizes its open-source nature and framework capabilities, LM Studio highlights its extensive model library and ease of use for getting models running quickly.

2
OllamaOn StorkCompare

Ollama simplifies the process of running large language models locally by providing a command-line interface and API for easy setup and interaction.

Ollama, like Jan, is free and designed for running local LLMs. While Jan offers a full desktop chat interface and framework, Ollama focuses more on the backend for serving models, making it a strong choice for developers or those who prefer command-line interaction, though it can be integrated with various frontends.

3
GPT4AllOn StorkCompare

GPT4All offers a free, open-source ecosystem of chatbots that can run powerful large language models locally on consumer-grade CPUs.

GPT4All directly competes with Jan by providing a free, open-source desktop application for local AI chat. Both prioritize privacy and local execution, but GPT4All has a strong emphasis on its own curated collection of models optimized for consumer hardware, whereas Jan aims to be a more general framework for various local and cloud models.

4
LocalAIOn StorkCompare

LocalAI is an open-source, self-hostable OpenAI-compatible API that allows you to run various AI models locally, offering a drop-in replacement for OpenAI's services.

LocalAI is similar to Jan in its open-source nature and focus on local model execution. However, LocalAI primarily functions as an API endpoint, mimicking OpenAI's API, making it more geared towards developers integrating local AI into their applications, whereas Jan provides a complete desktop chat interface and application framework for end-users and developers alike.

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