5 Best Open Source Chat UIs for LLMs in 2025
Let me share what I’ve learned after months of hands-on experience with different chat interfaces for AI. I’ve tested a bunch of open-source options, and I want to tell you about what works in the real world, especially Lobe Chat which impressed me
Why Trust My Take?
Well, I’m not just theorizing here, I’ve used these UIs in everything from side projects to full-production apps. This is all real-world experience, not just stuff I read about!
1. Lobe Chat
LobeChat is a sleek and feature-rich Chat UI designed for developers seeking to build cutting-edge conversational AI applications.
Features:
- File Upload & Knowledge Base: LobeChat allows users to upload files (documents, images, audio, and video) and create knowledge bases, which can be easily accessed and searched during conversations.
- Multi-Model Service Support: LobeChat supports a wide range of AI models from various service providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, giving users access to diverse conversational capabilities.
- Local LLM Support: LobeChat supports local models, enabling users to run their own models or use third-party local deployments for enhanced flexibility and privacy.
- Model Visual Recognition: Supports multimodal models, like OpenAI’s GPT-4 Vision, to allow the recognition of images and visuals, enhancing the chat experience with intelligent interpretation of images.
- TTS & STT Voice Interaction: LobeChat features Text-to-Speech (TTS) and Speech-to-Text (STT) capabilities, enabling users to interact via voice, making the platform accessible and ideal for auditory learning.
2. Open WebUI
Open WebUI offers a lightweight, minimalist Chat UI focused on efficiency and ease of use.
Features:
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Seamlessly works on web and mobile platforms.
- Optimized Performance: Designed to minimize latency and maximize responsiveness.
- Integration Ready: Easy to connect with most major LLM APIs, including OpenAI and Hugging Face.
- Multi-Language Support: Built-in localization for global users.
3. ChatGPT-Next-Web
ChatGPT-Next-Web is a versatile Chat UI offering advanced functionality and rich user experiences.
Features:
- ChatGPT-Like Design: Replicates the user-friendly and intuitive interface of ChatGPT.
- Role-Based Conversations: Enables different personas or roles for dynamic discussions.
- Dark Mode: Modern UI design with light and dark theme options.
- API-Friendly: Direct API integrations for LLMs.
4. Anything LLM
AnythingLLM is a highly adaptable Chat UI designed for general-purpose use cases, and it is also available for download as a desktop application, providing flexibility for both local and cloud-based usage
Features:
- Run Any LLM Locally or Cloud-Based: AnythingLLM allows you to easily run any preferred LLM either locally on your device or via a cloud-based engine with minimal setup.
- Simple and Sleek UI: A user-friendly interface designed for simplicity, making it easy to leverage LLMs for various tasks without frustration.
- Multi-Model Support: Integrates both text-only and multi-modal LLMs (such as those handling images and audio), providing versatility within a single interface.
- Open-Source and Customizable: AnythingLLM is MIT-licensed, open-source, and highly customizable, enabling you to extend functionality through custom agents and data connectors.
- Privacy-Focused: Prioritizes privacy by default, with everything stored and run locally on your machine, ensuring that your data remains secure.
5. Jan
Jan combines simplicity with robust features to provide a well-rounded Chat UI experience. It also offers desktop installation, allowing you to run everything locally on your computer for enhanced privacy and control.
Features:
- Customizable Interface: Jan offers drag-and-drop customization for developers, allowing you to modify the chat interface without requiring coding expertise.
- Pre-built Templates: Ready-to-use templates are available, saving time in development. These templates are suitable for various use cases like customer support, education, and more.
- Offline AI Models: Jan includes lightweight AI models that can operate offline, ensuring reliability even in environments with limited or no internet access.
- Scalable Architecture: Jan is designed to scale with your growing user base, ensuring that your application can handle increasing demand.
- Ease of Use: The intuitive user interface makes it easy for beginners and experienced developers alike to get started quickly and deploy with minimal effort.
Bonus: LibreChat
LibreChat aims to be a true open-source alternative to ChatGPT, offering comparable functionality with a high degree of customization.
Features:
- ChatGPT Replica: Mimics the interface and features of ChatGPT.
- Customizable Workflows: Tailor workflows to match specific project needs.
- Plugin Ecosystem: Expand capabilities with a range of community plugins.
- Cost Efficiency: Designed to work with free or inexpensive LLM APIs.
Conclusion
Picking the right Chat UI for your AI project is super important, and honestly, Lobe Chat is my top pick. Here’s why it’s super flexible, works with lots of different AI models, and has tons of features that make it awesome for teams working together. What I love is that it has this active community behind it, and they’re always adding new features and ways to customize it. Whether you’re a developer or working at a bigger company, it’s reliable and adaptable.
From my experience, Lobe Chat just hits that sweet spot — it’s versatile enough to handle whatever you throw at it but still performs great. It’s become my go-to when I’m building any kind of AI chat platform.
Take a minute to think about what your project needs. These tools are really solid now, so creating a smooth AI chat experience is way easier than it used to be. Just make sure you pick the one that fits what you’re trying to do!
