Alternatives / Msty Studio
Looking for an open source Msty Studio alternative? We compared 10 open source AI chat apps and local model runners by license, platforms, local models, and maintenance. Ollama runs the models, while Open WebUI, LibreChat, Jan, and Cherry Studio provide the chat interface.
Written by Maxime DERAME
Last updated:
| Alternative | Best for | License |
|---|---|---|
| Ollama | Runs local models with simple commands | MIT |
| Open WebUI | Self-hosted chat platform for local and cloud models | Open WebUI License; older code BSD-3-Clause / MIT |
| LobeChat | Platform for teams of AI agents | LobeHub Community License |
| AnythingLLM | Chat with documents and run agents | MIT |
| GPT4All | Offline desktop assistant (stalled) | MIT |
| Cherry Studio | Desktop client for 300+ models with MCP | AGPL-3.0 Community Edition |
| LibreChat | ChatGPT-like multi-provider interface | MIT |
| Jan | Desktop app for local and cloud models | Apache-2.0 |
| 5ire | Desktop assistant with MCP and knowledge base | Modified Apache-2.0 (source available) |
| Fullmoon | Offline iOS chat on Apple silicon | MIT |
We looked for open-source tools that chat with local and cloud models like Msty Studio: running models, switching providers, and working with documents. We verified each project's license, recent activity, stars, and platforms in its repository, and flag non-standard licenses. See our methodology for the full criteria.
Jan and Cherry Studio are desktop apps for local and cloud models, with Cherry Studio supporting 300+ models across 50+ providers, MCP, and a knowledge base. AnythingLLM is a desktop or self-hosted app for chatting with documents and running agents, private by default.
Ollama runs models locally with optional cloud access. Open WebUI and LibreChat are self-hosted web chat platforms with multi-user controls, and LobeHub focuses on running teams of agents. GPT4All is a desktop assistant for offline models, and 5ire is a desktop assistant with MCP support.
Fullmoon is an MIT iOS app for offline local models on Apple silicon, and works on Apple platforms only. Its last commit was in May 2025.
Open WebUI uses its own license with branding conditions, while older code was BSD-3-Clause. LobeHub uses the LobeHub Community License, and 5ire uses a modified Apache-2.0 that is source available. Cherry Studio's community edition is AGPL-3.0, with commercial licenses available.
Ollama, AnythingLLM, GPT4All, LibreChat, and Fullmoon are MIT. Jan is Apache-2.0. Cherry Studio is AGPL-3.0.
Ollama, Open WebUI, AnythingLLM, LibreChat, Jan, Cherry Studio, and LobeHub had commits within days of this update. GPT4All's last commit was in May 2025, so it looks stalled.
Msty Studio is a proprietary desktop app, so its source cannot be audited and some features sit in a paid tier. Open-source alternatives let you inspect the code, run models locally, and connect any provider, but some use custom licenses that limit rebranding or commercial use.
Ollama runs open-source language models on your own machine and exposes a local API that many apps and agents can use. It supports parallel requests and optional cloud access for larger models when local hardware is not enough.
Pricing: Free and open source; paid plans for optional cloud access.
Open WebUI provides a unified interface for Ollama, OpenAI-compatible APIs, Anthropic, and other providers, with document RAG, web search, tools, multimodal input, user management, and extensions. Current code uses the Open WebUI License with branding restrictions.
Pricing: Free to self-host; current license includes branding restrictions beyond traditional permissive licenses.
LobeChat, now LobeHub, is a platform for building and running teams of AI agents on long-running tasks and automated workflows. It includes multi-agent coordination, a large skill library, memory, pages, projects, schedules, and messaging gateways. It is licensed under the LobeHub Community License, based on Apache-2.0 with additional commercial conditions.
Pricing: Self-hostable; hosted cloud services may be offered separately.
GPT4All is a desktop application for running open-source models entirely on your hardware without cloud dependency. It includes LocalDocs for chatting with your documents and supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its repository has had no commits since May 2025.
Pricing: Free and open source.
AnythingLLM is an MIT-licensed local-first and self-hostable AI workspace with local or cloud models, document ingestion, vector search, agents, multi-user workspaces, and a developer API.
Pricing: Free and open source under MIT with desktop and self-hosted deployments.
Cherry Studio is an AGPL-3.0 Community Edition desktop AI assistant for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It combines model selection, chat, knowledge bases, agents, MCP servers, documents, model comparison, and local conversation storage.
Pricing: Free and open source Community Edition; external model API costs may apply.
LibreChat is an MIT-licensed self-hostable chat interface supporting Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Azure, local models, custom agents, files, tools, web search, code execution, model comparison, and multi-user access.
Pricing: Free and open source under MIT; API provider and infrastructure costs may apply.
Jan is an Apache-2.0 desktop AI assistant designed to run models such as Llama, Qwen, Mistral, and DeepSeek locally while also supporting cloud providers.
Pricing: Free and open source under Apache-2.0; cloud model API costs may apply.
5ire is a desktop AI assistant, licensed under a modified Apache-2.0 with additional commercial conditions (source available), for multiple providers, MCP servers, local knowledge bases, document RAG, reusable prompts, cost tracking, and searchable conversations.
Pricing: Free Community Edition with additional terms; a commercial license is required for some uses. Cloud models require provider API keys.
Fullmoon is an MIT-licensed local AI assistant that runs compatible language models entirely on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro using Apple's hardware acceleration.
Pricing: Free and open source under MIT; compatible local models run on supported Apple hardware.
| Alternative | Type | License | Local models | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ollama | Model runner | MIT | Yes | Running models locally |
| Open WebUI | Web chat UI | Open WebUI License | Yes | Teams and self-hosters |
| LobeChat | Agent platform | LobeHub Community License | Yes | Agent workflows |
| AnythingLLM | Desktop / server app | MIT | Yes | Private document Q&A |
| GPT4All | Desktop app | MIT | Yes | Offline use |
| Cherry Studio | Desktop app | AGPL-3.0 (Community) | Yes | Many providers |
| LibreChat | Web chat UI | MIT | Via providers | Multi-user chat |
| Jan | Desktop app | Apache-2.0 | Yes | Local-first chat |
| 5ire | Desktop app | Modified Apache-2.0 (source available) | Via providers | MCP users |
| Fullmoon | Mobile app | MIT | Yes | iPhone and iPad |
Want to run models locally
Ollama runs open models locally with no per-token fees and optional cloud access.
Want a self-hosted team chat platform
Open WebUI offers SSO, RBAC, and audit logs under its own license.
Want to chat with your documents privately
AnythingLLM is MIT, private by default, and supports multi-user and agents.
Want a desktop app with many providers
Cherry Studio supports 300+ models from 50+ providers with MCP and a knowledge base.
Want a simple local-first desktop app
Jan is Apache-2.0 and runs local open models or connects cloud providers.