Jan: An Open-Source, Offline ChatGPT Alternative for Your Desktop

Summary

Jan is a powerful open-source desktop application that provides a 100% offline alternative to ChatGPT. It allows users to download and run various large language models locally, ensuring complete control and privacy over their AI interactions. With support for multiple platforms, Jan offers a robust solution for personal and private AI use.

Use at your own risk

OSRepos shares public repositories for knowledge and discovery only. Any installation, execution, configuration, or use of code from these repositories is the user's own responsibility. Always review the repository, source code, dependencies, licenses, and security implications before running or installing anything. OSRepos is not responsible for issues, damages, or losses resulting from third-party repositories.

Introduction

Jan is an innovative open-source project that offers a compelling alternative to cloud-based AI services like ChatGPT. Designed to run entirely offline on your computer, Jan empowers users with full control over their AI models and data privacy. Built with TypeScript and leveraging technologies like Tauri and Llama.cpp, Jan has quickly gained significant traction, boasting over 44,000 stars on GitHub, highlighting its popularity and the community's demand for local, private AI solutions.

Installation

The easiest way to get started with Jan is by downloading the pre-built version compatible with your operating system. You can find the latest releases on the official Jan website or directly from the GitHub releases page.

Here are direct download links for common platforms:

Windows: jan.exe
macOS: jan.dmg
Linux (deb): jan.deb
Linux (AppImage): jan.AppImage

For those who prefer to build from source, Jan provides clear instructions. You'll need Node.js (? 20.0.0), Yarn (? 4.5.3), Make (? 3.81), and Rust (for Tauri). After cloning the repository, simply run make dev to set up and launch the application.

git clone https://github.com/janhq/jan
cd jan
make dev

Examples

Jan offers a rich set of features that enable diverse AI interactions:

Local AI Models: Download and run various Large Language Models (LLMs) from HuggingFace, including Llama, Gemma, Qwen, and GPT-oss, directly on your machine.
Cloud Integration: Connect to popular cloud AI services such as OpenAI's GPT models, Anthropic's Claude, Mistral, Groq, and MiniMax for extended capabilities.
Custom Assistants: Create specialized AI assistants tailored to specific tasks or workflows, enhancing productivity and personalization.
OpenAI Compatible API: Jan provides a local server at localhost:1337 with an OpenAI-compatible API, allowing other applications to integrate seamlessly with your local LLMs.
Model Context Protocol: Integration with MCP for advanced agent functionalities.

Why Use It

Jan stands out for several compelling reasons:

Uncompromised Privacy: By running LLMs 100% offline, Jan ensures that your conversations and data remain private and never leave your computer.
Full Control: You have complete control over which models you use, how they are configured, and when they run.
Open-Source Flexibility: As an open-source project, Jan benefits from community contributions, offering transparency and continuous improvement. You can inspect the code, contribute, or customize it to your needs.
Versatile AI Access: Whether you prefer to run models locally for privacy or connect to cloud services for more power, Jan provides a unified interface.
Cost-Effective: Running models locally can reduce reliance on paid cloud APIs, offering a more economical solution for frequent AI use.