Jan
Open-source · self-hostable · replaces 1 SaaS tool on os-alt
menloresearch/jan · alive · ★ 42.5k · last commit today · 371 open issues
License: AGPL-3.0
Good fit for Single users who want an Electron desktop ChatGPT replacement with no server, no Docker, no account.
Weak at Multi-user / team scenarios — Jan is fundamentally local-first; for shared use deploy Open WebUI or LibreChat instead.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli chatgpt prints
the ChatGPT comparison table including Jan.
how the CLI works →
Replaces these SaaS
- ChatGPT · AI chat assistant (consumer UI)
Download the installer for macOS/Windows/Linux from jan.ai, launch, and pull a model from the Hub tab. Conversations live in `~/jan/threads/` as JSON; ChatGPT export.zip can be dropped into a folder and queried via the assistant feature with the local files as context.
README badges for the SaaS this replaces
Maintainers and forks: drop a badge in your README to link readers from the SaaS-comparison page back to your repo.
FAQ
Is Jan actively maintained?
Yes — last commit today. The repository is alive (commit activity within the past 90 days).
What does Jan cost to self-host?
Jan is free and open source under AGPL-3.0. Typical self-host VPS cost: Free; it's a local desktop app — no server to host. Cost is the workstation that runs the model.
Which SaaS does Jan replace?
Jan is listed as an open-source self-host alternative to: ChatGPT.