Guide to Self-Hosting AI UI: June 2025

Introduction

Self-hosting your AI interface gives you key benefits: data privacy, cost savings, offline access, and customization not possible with cloud services. In 2025, many free open-source platforms make this easier than ever, whether you're running models locally (see Self Hosted LLM Guide) or connecting to APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, etc.).

This guide compares top self-hosted AI chat interfaces for ease of use, features, and flexibility.

✅ Quick Picks

Many open-source AI chat interfaces are now available, from simple desktop apps to advanced web UIs to multi-user platforms. We'll cover the best options by use case, noting key features and pros/cons for each.

Easy-Installation Desktop Apps

These bundle local LLMs with simple setup, perfect for non-technical users wanting a private ChatGPT-like experience without complex configuration.

GPT4All Desktop

A popular desktop AI chatbot running models locally with a ChatGPT-style interface. No internet needed.

Pros: Simple download-and-run setup for Windows, Mac, or Linux. Supports 1000+ models with built-in model manager. Runs on CPU or GPU (including Mac M1/M2). Includes "LocalDocs" for document Q&A and basic parameter controls.

Cons: Performance depends on your hardware (needs good GPU/RAM for larger models). Lacks advanced plugins or web access. Single-user only.

Perfect for offline chat with maximum simplicity and privacy.

Jan

An open-source ChatGPT alternative that runs 100% offline.

Pros: Clean UI with support for multiple model backends including llama.cpp and TensorRT. Easy model downloads. Works with any Hugging Face model. Cross-platform with no paid tier. Features AI "assistants" (profiles), extensions, document chat, and VS Code integration.

Cons: Newer community (~29k GitHub stars vs GPT4All's ~70k+). Fewer plugins than larger frameworks. Single-user focused.

Great fully-offline option with active development and transparency.

Chatbox

A desktop client that unifies multiple AI services in one interface.

Pros: Simple setup for Windows, Mac, Linux and mobile. Local data storage. Supports multiple providers: OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Azure, and local models via Ollama. Polished UI with markdown support, prompt library, and keyboard shortcuts. Includes web access and basic team sharing.

Cons: More a unified client than a hackable platform. Limited extensibility. Requires external model setup for offline use. Basic team features.

Excellent for a one-stop app with minimal setup and great UI.

Advanced Self-Hosted Chat UIs

These offer powerful features but require more setup. They run as web applications and support both local and API models. Ideal for enthusiasts and developers.

Open WebUI

An extensible, feature-rich web app for AI chat that can run offline.

Pros: Supports local models via Ollama and any OpenAI-compatible API. Features include: multi-model chats, built-in document retrieval, web search, image generation, and voice/video chat. Has a "Pipelines" plugin system for custom Python tools. Works across devices with role-based user accounts.

Cons: Complex setup (Docker/Kubernetes recommended). Requires technical skills to configure. While it supports multiple users, it's not enterprise-ready without their paid plan.

Choose this for an "ultimate" self-hosted assistant if you don't mind technical setup.

LLMChat.co

A newer platform with intuitive design and strong privacy focus.

Pros: Supports various AI providers and local models via Ollama. Includes a small built-in model to start without API keys. Features specialized modes like "Pro Search" and "Deep Research," plugin system with function calling, web search, multimodal input, and voice commands. All data stays in your browser.

Cons: Manual setup process. Single-user focused. Many features need internet access. Newer project with rapid changes.

Like a swiss-army knife ChatGPT interface with built-in research tools.

Hugging Face Chat UI

The open-source interface behind HuggingChat.

Pros: Natively works with open-source models from Hugging Face. Supports many providers and local backends. Implements function-calling tools via the MCP standard. Includes web search, multimodal features, and optional user authentication.

Cons: More complex deployment (requires MongoDB). Fewer integrated tools than some alternatives. Less customizable interface.

Good choice for a well-supported, standardized chat UI if you're comfortable with web deployment.

Multi-User Chat Platforms

These solutions work well for teams, with user accounts, conversation management, and collaboration features.

LibreChat

A powerful platform that unifies multiple AI providers in one place.

Pros: Supports many model providers with easy switching. Features conversation forking, agent systems (file Q&A, code execution), rich content rendering, multimodal support, and conversation search. Built for multi-user deployment with roles and permissions. Relatively easy setup via Docker.

Cons: Large application with slightly fewer total features than OpenWebUI, though it's catching up quickly.

Uniquely offers full MCP integration and an Agent Builder UI.

Excellent for organizations wanting a secure, feature-rich ChatGPT alternative with multi-user support.

AnythingLLM

An all-in-one platform focused on knowledge management.

Pros: Features "Workspaces" for document organization with automatic indexing. Supports multiple LLM backends (local and API-based). Easy desktop setup or server deployment with multi-user accounts. Privacy-focused with all data staying on your machine.

Cons: Narrower feature set than alternatives, focused on document Q&A rather than plugins or image generation. Simpler UI without advanced conversation tools.

Great for team document chat with your own knowledge base.

In summary, your best choice depends on your needs:

All options are free and open-source, letting you run ChatGPT-like experiences on anything from a Mac Mini to a multi-GPU server. Each has strengths in offline capability, features, or team support, and they're all actively improving.

Want help setting up your local AI? Learn about AI Deployment Options.

Happy self-hosting!

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