Jan
Jan is an open-source alternative to ChatGPT.
At a glance
Starts at
Free
No paid plan found on the vendor's site, September 2026.
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
MacOS
Best for
Developers, enthusiasts
Not for
Designers with dark mode preference
3.9 out of 5
Scored by a Toolio reviewer after real useOur verdict
Open-source and self-hosted, Jan provides flexibility but lacks mainstream model support.
✓What it does well
Self-hostingJan can run models locally or connect to cloud services like GPT-4, Claude and others.
CustomizableUsers can choose different AI models or plug in their favorites.
Open Model EcosystemRuns on a variety of open-source models.
✕Where it falls short
Model support limitedOnly a few open-source AI models are supported; mainstream ones aren't available yet.
Dark mode missingThe dark mode theme is not available currently.
Dark Mode AbsentLacks native support for dark mode themes.
Key features
Open-source ecosystemRuns on open-source models and connects to a variety of cloud models.
Memory retentionJan remembers context from previous interactions, reducing repetition.
Accessible via desktopAvailable for Mac as a downloadable application.
Self-hosting capabilityRemember context from previous interactions.