Cheapest self-hosted ChatGPT alternatives
Short answer
The cheapest self-hosted ChatGPT alternative with an official hardware figure is LibreChat: its minimum 1 vCPU · 1 GB RAM (recommended 2 GB RAM) fits a Hetzner Cloud CPX02 at about €6.49/month (server only).
Next: LobeHub (LobeChat) (from €19.99/month).
Jan is a desktop app that runs on each employee's computer, so there is no server to rent.
Open WebUI, NextChat publish no official RAM minimum, so we do not estimate their cost.
The server price does not include the AI model: the web apps connect to a model API (billed by the provider) or to a model runtime you host yourself.
Last updated · generated from the same verified data as each app page
Comparison table
| App | Est. server cost | Official hardware | License | GitHub stars | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LibreChat | from €6.49/mo | minimum 1 vCPU · 1 GB RAM (recommended 2 GB RAM) | MIT | 46.1k | Active |
| LobeHub (LobeChat) | from €19.99/mo | minimum 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM · 20 GB disk (recommended 4 vCPU · 8 GB RAM · 50 GB disk) | LobeHub Community License (Apache-2.0 with conditions) | 83.4k | Active |
| Open WebUI | from €11.99/mo (based on our test, not official) | Not published (measured by us: 909 MiB RAM while working) | Open WebUI License (BSD-3-Clause style with branding clause) | 156k | Active |
| NextChat | from €6.49/mo (based on our test, not official) | Not published (measured by us: 57 MiB RAM while working) | MIT | 88.9k | Active |
| Jan | No server (desktop app) | minimum 8 GB RAM · 10 GB disk (recommended 16 GB RAM) | Apache-2.0 | 45.0k | Active |
Apps from our "Private ChatGPT-style chat" category, sorted by estimated cost. Cost = cheapest Hetzner Cloud Regular Performance (shared AMD vCPU) plan that meets the project's official RAM and vCPU figure, list price read on 2026-10-22, excl. VAT, server only (no LLM API usage, backups or your time).
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest self-hosted ChatGPT alternative?
The cheapest self-hosted ChatGPT alternative with an official hardware figure is LibreChat: its minimum 1 vCPU · 1 GB RAM (recommended 2 GB RAM) fits a Hetzner Cloud CPX02 at about €6.49/month (server only).
Is there a ChatGPT alternative that needs no server at all?
Jan: Jan runs on each user's computer (official minimum 8 GB RAM · 10 GB disk (recommended 16 GB RAM)).
Does a self-hosted ChatGPT alternative include the AI model?
The server price does not include the AI model: the web apps connect to a model API (billed by the provider) or to a model runtime you host yourself.
Can a business use these chat apps commercially?
LibreChat: MIT (internal business use allowed). LobeHub (LobeChat): LobeHub Community License (Apache-2.0 with conditions) (internal business use allowed). Open WebUI: Open WebUI License (BSD-3-Clause style with branding clause) (internal business use allowed). NextChat: MIT (internal business use allowed). Jan: Apache-2.0 (internal business use allowed). See each app page for the license conditions. Not legal advice.
Related
Every figure on this page comes from the linked app pages, which cite the project's own repository and docs. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.