Jan
v0.8.8Open sourceReleased 28 Oct 2026
Open-source ChatGPT alternative that runs models offline or connects to cloud APIs. By Menlo Research
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
By the ToolsBharat teamUpdated 28 Oct 2026How we check
Quick answer
Jan is open source software for Windows, macOS and Linux from Menlo Research. Open-source ChatGPT alternative that runs models offline or connects to cloud APIs. Download it only from jan.ai. The latest version we track is 0.8.8 (28 Oct 2026). ToolsBharat links straight to the publisher's own download page, with no bundled offers.
- Latest version:
- 0.8.8 (28 Oct 2026)
- Publisher:
- Menlo Research
- Official site:
- jan.ai
- Licence:
- Open source — Apache-2.0
- Requirements:
- Windows 10+, macOS 13.6+, most Linux distributions
Our verdict
Jan is a free, open-source desktop app for chatting with local models from Hugging Face, or with cloud models such as OpenAI and Anthropic when you add your own key. It can also act as an OpenAI-compatible local server for other apps. It is a good privacy-minded choice, though local models still need a reasonably capable PC.
Screenshots
Key features
- Download and run open models locally
- Optional cloud providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Groq and others) with your own key
- OpenAI-compatible local API server on localhost:1337
- MCP support and custom assistants
Pros
- Pro: Fully open source under Apache-2.0
- Pro: Can keep all processing on your machine
- Pro: Windows x64 and ARM64 installers
Cons
- Con: Local models need plenty of RAM (16 GB suggested for 7B models on Mac)
- Con: Linux ARM64 needs a manual setup
What's new in 0.8.8
See what changed in 0.8.8 in the official release notes
Version history
Version 0.8.8Latest
28 Oct 2026- SHA-256
- The developer does not publish one
- Source
- Release notes
Official downloads by platform
For Windows, use the Download button. Other platforms go straight to the publisher's own page or official store.
Requirements
- OS
- Windows 10+, macOS 13.6+, most Linux distributions
- Architecture
- x64, ARM64 (Windows); Universal (macOS); x64 (Linux)
- Also needs
- Mac RAM guide: 8 GB for 3B models, 16 GB for 7B, 32 GB for 13B; GPU acceleration on NVIDIA, AMD and Intel Arc
Licence
- Type
- Open source
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Publisher
- jan.ai
Where these facts come from
Checked 30 Oct 2026
User reviews
User reviewsयूज़र रिव्यू
No reviews yet
Used Jan? Reviews appear after moderation; we never import or invent ratings.
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- AnythingLLM Desktop1.19.0 · Open sourceAll-in-one local AI app for chatting with documents, agents and any LLM. Official No bundlesAvailable on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
- Msty Studio2.9.11 · FreemiumPrivacy-first desktop AI workspace for local and online models. Official No bundlesAvailable on Windows, macOS, Linux
Jan
0.8.8 · Not stated