cherry-studio vs jan
Desktop AI chat apps compared
cherry-studio and jan are cross-platform desktop apps for chatting with AI models. cherry-studio focuses on a unified workspace for many providers, documents, and assistants, while jan emphasizes running models locally with optional cloud connections.
cherry-studio: Chat with Multiple AI Models on Desktop
Cherry Studio is a TypeScript desktop client for Windows, macOS, and Linux that brings multiple LLM providers, AI assistants, and conversations into one app. It also supports local models, document handling, and MCP servers.
jan: Run AI Models Locally in a Desktop App
Jan is a desktop app for chatting with locally run language models, with optional connections to cloud AI providers. It suits people who want more control over where their conversations and models run, plus an OpenAI-compatible local API.
| cherry-studio | jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | TypeScript | Rust |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | — |
| Stars | 52.7k | 44.9k |
| Forks | 5.1k | 3.1k |
| Last analyzed | Oct 19, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Key differences
- cherry-studio supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, and connects to cloud services and local models through Ollama or LM Studio; jan runs downloaded local models and can also connect to cloud providers.
- cherry-studio includes 300+ pre-configured assistants, multi-model conversations, and tools for working with documents and images; jan offers custom assistants and an OpenAI-compatible local API.
- cherry-studio is written in TypeScript and uses the AGPL-3.0 license; jan is written in Rust and lists its license as NOASSERTION.
- cherry-studio supports WebDAV file management, global search, and topic management; jan focuses on local model management and an API at localhost:1337.
- cherry-studio’s listed cloud connections include OpenAI, Gemini, and Anthropic; jan’s include OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, and Groq.
Choose cherry-studio if you…
- want to compare responses from multiple models in one conversation.
- need a unified chat workflow for documents, images, and assistants.
- want to connect local models through Ollama or LM Studio alongside cloud services.
Choose jan if you…
- want to download and run local models through a desktop interface.
- need a local OpenAI-compatible API for other applications.
- prioritize keeping selected AI interactions on your computer, with cloud providers as an option.
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This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.