Free alternatives to ChatGPT Plus
9 free programs that can replace ChatGPT Plus, each pairing checked by Radar's AI reviewer or by Radar.
ChatGPT Plus is OpenAI's paid subscription for its online AI chat assistant. People use it to write and rewrite text, summarize documents, brainstorm, study, translate and get help with code.
Ollama runs AI models on your own computer, and Open WebUI is a chat interface for talking to them. Before switching, think about:
- Quality: models you run yourself differ in how well they write, reason and handle other languages, so test them with your real tasks.
- Hardware: running a model locally needs enough memory and a decent graphics card, and answers can be slower.
- Features you use today, such as image creation, voice, web search, file uploads or custom assistants, which may not exist or may need extra setup.
- Your chat history: export it from your account before leaving.
- Privacy: check where your messages go if the tool calls an outside service.
The list below shows the other options, so compare them against these points.
| Program | Ease | You need | Risk signals | Stars | Downloads this week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OllamaDownload and chat with open AI models like DeepSeek, Qwen and Gemma on your own computer. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Few signals | 185,479+712 in 6 days | 3,317,302 |
| Cherry StudioOne desktop app to chat with many AI models, run agents, build a local knowledge base and create images. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 2 | 53,131+124 in 5 days | 571,905 |
| DeepTutorA personal AI tutor you run yourself: ask about your own documents, get quizzes, study books, reading help and practice. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Python, Docker | Attention · 4 | 52,820+8,939 in 5 days | 204 |
| FreeLLMAPIPuts the free tiers of many AI providers behind one local address, so your apps and coding tools can share them. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 4 | 45,200+3,018 in 5 days | 34,083 |
| StrataRuns a big AI model on your own computer and offers it to chat and coding tools at a local address. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Graphics card | Attention · 4 | 37,090+4,250 in 6 days | 857,538 |
| DSHDesktopA desktop app for chatting with DeepSeek or other AI models that can work on your project folders and make editable slide decks. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 1 | 17,004— | 4,569 |
| LearnHarnessDesktop app where AI agents teach you a subject step by step and keep a map of what you already understand. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 2 | 4,541+1,439 in 4 days | 42,220 |
| Hermes AgentA terminal AI assistant that can use your computer, remember past chats, and be reached from Telegram or Discord. | Ease Cinstall 1 or 2 tools · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 3 | 259,182+2,101 in 6 days | 72 |
| Open WebUIA chat page you run on your own computer for talking to AI models, either local ones or paid ones through an API key. | Ease Cinstall 1 or 2 tools · Windows | Python, Docker | Attention · 4 | 157,407+550 in 5 days | — |
Frequently asked questions
Which free alternative to ChatGPT Plus is the easiest to install?
Ollama has the highest ease rating among the 9 options: B (installer plus one simple step · Windows).
Is there a free alternative to ChatGPT Plus for Windows, Mac and Linux?
Windows: Ollama, Cherry Studio, DeepTutor, FreeLLMAPI, Strata, DSHDesktop, LearnHarness, Hermes Agent, Open WebUI. macOS: Ollama, Cherry Studio, DeepTutor, FreeLLMAPI, Strata, DSHDesktop, LearnHarness, Hermes Agent, Open WebUI. Linux: Ollama, Cherry Studio, DeepTutor, FreeLLMAPI, Strata, LearnHarness, Hermes Agent, Open WebUI.
Are the alternatives to ChatGPT Plus really free?
1 of the 9 is completely free; 8 depend on a paid service or key for some features.
How can I tell whether an alternative is trustworthy?
Each card shows the risk signals found, with the evidence. 1 of the 9 has no signal rated attention or high. See also the guide How to find a GitHub project's official repository and avoid fake copies.