Open WebUI: Open Source Alternative to ChatGPT

Open WebUI is a feature-rich web interface for AI models with 139k+ GitHub stars — a ChatGPT alternative supporting Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs.

Compare Open WebUI with LibreChat and Claude before you choose your stack.

Key features

Multi-model support

• Connect to Ollama, OpenAI, and any compatible API
• Model switching mid-conversation
• Custom model parameters and system prompts
• Support for vision, code, and specialized models

Chat experience

• Markdown rendering with syntax highlighting
• Code execution in the browser
• File and image upload for multimodal chat
• Conversation folders, search, and export

Self-hosted control

• Multi-user with role-based access control
• User groups and permissions
• Local user management (no external auth required)
• Mobile-responsive progressive web app

Open WebUI vs ChatGPT

	Open WebUI	ChatGPT
License	BSD-3-Clause (open source)	Proprietary
Models	Bring your own keys / local models	Vendor-locked models
Deployment	Self-hosted or cloud	SaaS only
Privacy	Data stays on your infrastructure	Processed by vendor
Cost	Free software + API usage	Subscription pricing

Choose Open WebUI if you want open-source code, self-hosting options, and full control over your data and deployment.

Choose ChatGPT if you prefer a managed proprietary product with vendor support and minimal setup.

Browse more open-source alternatives to ChatGPT, or explore other tools in AI Interaction.

At a glance

License	BSD-3-Clause
Stack	SvelteKit, Python
Self-hosted	Yes
Cloud	openwebui.com
API Support	Ollama, OpenAI, compatible

Self-hosting

docker run -d -p 3000:8080 -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main

Single Docker command with built-in SQLite database.

FAQ

Is Open WebUI a free alternative to ChatGPT?

Yes. Open WebUI is open source under BSD-3-Clause. You can self-host it at no software cost — you only pay for infrastructure or optional managed services.

How does Open WebUI compare to ChatGPT?

Open WebUI gives you source code access, self-hosting, and data ownership. ChatGPT is a proprietary product focused on managed convenience. See the comparison table above for a side-by-side breakdown.

Can I self-host Open WebUI?

Yes. Open WebUI supports self-hosted deployment, which is a core reason teams choose it over ChatGPT. Check the Getting started or Self-hosting section for install commands.

Is Open WebUI suitable for production?

Open WebUI is actively maintained with a strong open-source community. Many teams run it in production as a AI Interaction alternative to ChatGPT. Review the At a glance table for license and stack details.

What are alternatives to Open WebUI and ChatGPT?

Browse alternatives to ChatGPT for more open-source options, including tools compared to LibreChat. Explore the full AI Interaction category for related projects.