AnythingLLM vs PrivateGPT
Short answer
AnythingLLM: All-in-one private chat with your documents, agents and an embeddable widget. PrivateGPT: API-first private document Q&A that sits on top of your own LLM server. Both are in our Knowledge base & RAG category.
Our data does not separate them on cost, hardware, license, activity or deploy method (or one of them does not publish the figure). Decide on features: read the descriptions on each app page and try both.
PrivateGPT publishes no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.
Last updated · computed from each project's official docs and live GitHub data · sources
AnythingLLM vs PrivateGPT side by side
| AnythingLLM | PrivateGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Knowledge base & RAG | Knowledge base & RAG |
| What it is | All-in-one private chat with your documents, agents and an embeddable widget. | API-first private document Q&A that sits on top of your own LLM server. |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| License type | Permissive | Permissive |
| License conditions | Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep the copyright notice. | Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep license and notices. |
| Status | Active | Active |
| GitHub stars | 67.4k | 57.6k |
| Last commit | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Latest release | v1.18.0 | v1.0.1 |
| Minimum hardware | 2 vCPU · 2 GB RAM · 5 GB disk | Not published |
| Recommended hardware | Not published | Not published |
| RAM measured by us | Not tested yet | Not tested yet |
| GPU | Not required / not stated | Not required / not stated |
| Est. server cost | from €19.99/mo | Not estimated |
| Deploy method | Docker | uv (Python) or Docker |
| Known gotchas | 2 listed | 2 listed |
| Telemetry | On by default | Not documented |
| Calls home by default | No (documented) | Not documented |
| SSO (OIDC / SAML / LDAP) | Not documented | Paid / enterprise only (LDAP paid) |
| Audit log | Not documented | Paid / enterprise only |
| RBAC | Not documented | Paid / enterprise only |
| Details | Full AnythingLLM guide → | Full PrivateGPT guide → |
Key differences
- License: AnythingLLM: MIT (Permissive). PrivateGPT: Apache-2.0 (Permissive).
- Official hardware: AnythingLLM: minimum 2 vCPU · 2 GB RAM · 5 GB disk. PrivateGPT: not published.
- Est. server cost: AnythingLLM: from €19.99/mo. PrivateGPT: not estimated (no official RAM figure).
- Deploy: AnythingLLM: Docker · single container. PrivateGPT: uv (Python) or Docker · uv (Python) or Docker.
- GitHub stars: AnythingLLM: 67.4k. PrivateGPT: 57.6k.
- Last commit: AnythingLLM: Oct 22, 2026. PrivateGPT: Oct 20, 2026.
- Latest release: AnythingLLM: v1.18.0 (Oct 13, 2026). PrivateGPT: v1.0.1 (Jun 18, 2026).
Same for both: Category: Knowledge base & RAG; GPU: not required or not stated; Status: Active.
The two projects share too few published figures for a data-based recommendation. We do not fill gaps with guesses.
AnythingLLM vs PrivateGPT: FAQ
AnythingLLM or PrivateGPT: which should a small business choose?
Our data does not separate them on cost, hardware, license, activity or deploy method (or one of them does not publish the figure). Decide on features: read the descriptions on each app page and try both. PrivateGPT publishes no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.
Which is cheaper to self-host, AnythingLLM or PrivateGPT?
AnythingLLM: from €19.99/mo. PrivateGPT: not estimated (no official RAM figure). Our estimate is the cheapest Hetzner Cloud plan that meets each project's official RAM and vCPU figure; it covers the server only.
How much hardware do AnythingLLM and PrivateGPT need?
AnythingLLM: minimum 2 vCPU · 2 GB RAM · 5 GB disk. PrivateGPT: not published.
What is the license difference between AnythingLLM and PrivateGPT?
AnythingLLM: MIT (Permissive). Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep the copyright notice. PrivateGPT: Apache-2.0 (Permissive). Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep license and notices. This is a summary, not legal advice.
Is AnythingLLM or PrivateGPT more actively maintained?
AnythingLLM: Active, last commit Oct 22, 2026. PrivateGPT: Active, last commit Oct 20, 2026. GitHub data refreshed Oct 22, 2026.
Which is easier to deploy, AnythingLLM or PrivateGPT?
AnythingLLM installs via Docker (single container); PrivateGPT via uv (Python) or Docker (uv (Python) or Docker). AnythingLLM lists 2 known gotchas and PrivateGPT lists 2; see each app page.
Related
- AnythingLLM self-hosting guide · PrivateGPT self-hosting guide
- All AnythingLLM alternatives, ranked
- All PrivateGPT alternatives, ranked
- AnythingLLM vs FastGPT
- AnythingLLM vs LibreChat
- AnythingLLM vs LobeHub (LobeChat)
- AnythingLLM vs MaxKB
- AnythingLLM vs Onyx (formerly Danswer)
- AnythingLLM vs Open Notebook
- AnythingLLM vs Open WebUI
- AnythingLLM vs RAGFlow
- FastGPT vs PrivateGPT
- MaxKB vs PrivateGPT
- Onyx (formerly Danswer) vs PrivateGPT
- Open Notebook vs PrivateGPT
- Add a third app in the interactive comparison
Sources
- AnythingLLM GitHub repository: github.com/Mintplex-Labs/anything-llm
- AnythingLLM documentation, AnythingLLM hardware requirements: docs.anythingllm.com/installation-docker/system-requirements
- AnythingLLM license: github.com/Mintplex-Labs/anything-llm/blob/master/LICENSE
- AnythingLLM deploy instructions: github.com/Mintplex-Labs/anything-llm/blob/master/docker/HOW_TO_USE_DOCKER.md
- PrivateGPT GitHub repository: github.com/zylon-ai/private-gpt
- PrivateGPT documentation, PrivateGPT hardware requirements: docs.privategpt.dev/getting-started/quickstart
- PrivateGPT license: github.com/zylon-ai/private-gpt/blob/main/LICENSE
- PrivateGPT deploy instructions: github.com/zylon-ai/private-gpt#readme
- Hetzner Cloud pricing used for cost estimates (read 2026-10-22): www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance
- GitHub REST API (stars, commits, releases): docs.github.com/en/rest
Every value is generated from the same verified data as the app pages. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.