Open-source ChatGPT Work alternatives, ranked
If you want to own the system rather than rent a seat, these are the open-source ChatGPT Work alternatives worth comparing. We rank four by what you get to keep, and our pick is Kortix, which is open source.
The open-source ChatGPT Work alternatives, side by side
Every rival column states what that project documents about itself.
Rival columns reflect each project's own site or repository, checked October 2026. Confirm each project's current terms before you choose.
The manifest is the deployment
kortix_version: 2default_agent: kortixagents: kortix: file: agents/kortix.md connectors: all kortix_permissions: alltriggers: - slug: daily-digest type: cron agent: kortix cron: '0 0 9 * * 1-5'A real kortix.yaml excerpt from the Kortix manifest reference.
Why Kortix is our pick
Kortix is the open-source AI Operating System: your agents, their skills, your company memory, and every connector in one git repo you own. One isolated sandbox per session. Each session has its own isolated machine and branch. Session work reaches main through a change request. Merge is default-deny for agents.
The configuration is files you version and diff. Open source. Read it, fork it, audit it. Run it on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on your own on-prem network. Self-host is free, and the self-hosting guide starts it with three commands. Kortix on GitHub carries 20,000+ GitHub stars (checked October 2026).
Jan runs on your own computer
Jan is an open-source ChatGPT replacement that runs on your own computer. The project ships desktop builds for Windows, macOS and Linux, runs local models such as Llama, Gemma and Qwen, and can also connect to cloud providers. Jan's own site describes it as personal intelligence you run your way (jan.ai, Jan on GitHub).
Jan suits one person on one machine, a private assistant that can run offline on a laptop. Kortix targets a team: agents and memory shared by everyone, with work that lands through a change request in a repo the company owns.
LibreChat is a self-hosted chat platform
LibreChat is an open-source AI platform that brings your AI conversations into one unified, customizable interface. It runs on a server you control, with agents that handle files, interpret code and call APIs, an admin panel for users, groups, roles and configuration, and one-command setup. Its own site shows 45.5k GitHub stars, checked October 2026 (LibreChat, LibreChat on GitHub).
LibreChat suits a team that wants a self-hosted chat and agent front end with an admin panel. Kortix adds the layer behind the chat window: the agents, skills, memory and connectors as versioned files, on cloud computers that return finished work.
Open WebUI is a self-hosted front end for any model
Open WebUI is a self-hosted AI platform that runs local and cloud models behind one interface. It connects to Ollama and any OpenAI-compatible API, extends with Python tools and functions, and adds SSO, RBAC, audit logs and on-premises deployment for teams that need them. It keeps its state in a database on your server, with an Enterprise plan available (Open WebUI, Open WebUI on GitHub).
Open WebUI suits a team that wants a governed front end over local and cloud models. Kortix is model-agnostic as well, and it keeps the whole configuration in a git repo you can diff and move.
What ChatGPT Work is, and what it keeps
ChatGPT Work is OpenAI's hosted agent product, launched July 9, 2026. OpenAI describes it as an agent that takes action across your apps and files and turns a goal into finished work, reachable on web, mobile and desktop (OpenAI).
ChatGPT Work is closed and hosted. It runs only in OpenAI's cloud, on OpenAI's models, and your configuration and context stay inside their product. If you want the hosted option, that is the trade. If you want to own the system, the open-source alternatives on this page are the place to start, and the ChatGPT Work vs Kortix page sets the two side by side.
Questions about the alternatives.
Is ChatGPT Work open source?
No. ChatGPT Work is OpenAI's hosted agent product (OpenAI). It runs in OpenAI's cloud with no self-host path, and the configuration lives inside their product.
Can I self-host an open-source ChatGPT Work alternative?
Yes. Kortix, LibreChat and Open WebUI all run on a server you control, and Kortix self-host is free. Jan runs on your own computer as a desktop app. The self-hosting guide has Kortix’s three commands.
What does Kortix cost to start?
Free is $0 with 200 credits per month and 1 project. The team plan is $40 per seat per month with 2,500 credits per month per seat, pooled. Self-host is free. See Kortix pricing.
Can I bring my own model and keys?
Yes. Any model provider with your own keys. Or the ChatGPT plan you already pay for. Or sign in with your OpenCode Console account for OpenCode Zen and Go.
Run your whole company from one repo you own.
Start with one job and grow from there.
Open source · Any model, your keys · Self-host, VPC, or on-prem