What is Jan?
Jan is an open-source desktop application positioned as an alternative to ChatGPT. It lets you run open models such as Llama, Mistral, Qwen, DeepSeek and Gemma directly on your own computer, or plug in online models from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and others, all from one interface.
You choose a model from the built-in library, download it or add your provider, and chat with it like any assistant. The page also mentions a Memory feature (listed as coming soon) that is meant to carry context and preferences across conversations, so you do not need to repeat yourself. Jan is free, the code is public on GitHub, and the app is available for Mac, with the homepage promoting a download and a Jan Agent product.
Key features
- Run open-source AI models locally on your computer
- Connect to cloud models such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and others
- Choose from many open models (Llama, Mistral, Qwen, DeepSeek, Gemma and more)
- Memory feature to carry context and preferences across chats (coming soon)
- Open-source code publicly available on GitHub
Who is it for
- Users who want a private, local alternative to ChatGPT
- Developers and AI enthusiasts testing open-source models
- People who want one interface for multiple AI providers
Pros and cons
- Free and open source
- Can run models locally, keeping chats on your own machine
- Works with both local open models and major online providers
- Memory feature is not yet available (listed as coming soon)
Jan pricing
The vendor does not publish prices in a readable form (often pricing is shown only after signing in).
Is Jan free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free and open source, with local model use; the page does not specify any limits.
Jan alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 DeepSeek | 0.02 USD | ? | Chatbots & AI assistants |
 Grok | 30 USD/mo | yes | Chatbots & AI assistants |
 ChatGPT | 34,99 PLN/mo | yes | Chatbots & AI assistants |
 Microsoft Copilot | 27.73 EUR/mo | trial | Chatbots & AI assistants |
 Claude | 17 USD/mo | yes | Chatbots & AI assistants |
 Bielik | not listed | yes | Chatbots & AI assistants |
FAQ
What is Jan used for?
Open-source desktop app to run open AI models locally or connect to cloud models like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, for private and flexible chat.
Is Jan free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free and open source, with local model use; the page does not specify any limits.
How much does Jan cost?
The vendor does not publish prices publicly or requires sign-in.
What are the best Jan alternatives?
Closest alternatives: DeepSeek, Grok, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (jan.ai).