Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Jan

Free#29 of 65 in AI ChatbotsVirtual AssistantByok SystemGeneral-Purpose AI Assistants+1 more

Jan: A flexible open-source choice for private local AI chat, agents, and developer workflows. Ranked #29 of 65 in AI Chatbots by our editors (6.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for open-source local and private AI chat.

6.4/10Editor score
Visit Jan
Jan6.4 Visit Jan

At a glance

  • Editor score
    6.4 / 10
  • Pricing
    Free plan
  • Best for
    Open-source local and private AI chat
  • Free plan
    Yes
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Web search
    Yes
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
Jan screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • Runs local language models on macOS, Windows, and Linux
    • Supports web search, broad file uploads, projects, and custom assistants
    • Connects cloud providers, MCP tools, and an OpenAI-compatible local API

  • Where it doesn't

    • Cloud models require separately configured provider accounts and API keys
    • Its documented access centers on desktop, browser, API, and self-hosted use
    • Its feature set focuses on chat and agents rather than image generation

Our verdict on Jan

Jan is an open-source AI application for individuals and developers who want to chat with language models locally or connect cloud providers. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, with browser access, self-hosted deployment, and an API. Local models can run offline on a user’s computer, while connected providers include OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq, Mistral AI, Azure OpenAI, OpenRouter, and Hugging Face. The product also supports web search, web fetching, document and image uploads, audio and other files, projects, custom assistants, autonomous agents, Cowork tasks, and MCP connections.

Its pricing model is open source with a free plan, and local use is described as having no usage fees. That makes Jan suited to users who want to run models on their own hardware without a recurring product charge. Cloud access follows a different arrangement: provider accounts and API keys are configured separately, so the cost and account requirements depend on the selected service. The published product scope does not present a separate paid Jan tier, making the main decision one of local operation versus externally billed cloud models.

Jan’s strongest fit is its combination of local chat, provider choice, project organization, assistants, agents, and developer access through an OpenAI-compatible local API. MCP support and connections to services such as Claude Code extend its role beyond a basic chatbot. It is a good choice for technically comfortable individuals and developers who value open-source software, local processing, and flexible model connections. Users seeking a dedicated mobile experience, image-generation workflow, or a team-specific workspace should choose a product built around those needs instead.

Your product? Our editors can test Jan in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Jan pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on jan.ai

Jan fact sheet

Free planYes
Paid fromFree
Web searchYes
File uploadsYes
Image generationNot verified
Mobile appsNot verified
App integrationsYes
Team workspaceNot verified
DeploymentSelf-hosted, Desktop
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux
SupportCommunity, Docs
Built forSolo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Integrations10 integrations: MCP servers, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Groq, Mistral AI …
PricingFree plan
Websitejan.ai
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

Jan integrations

Jan lists 10 integrations on its own site.

  • MCP servers
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • Google Gemini
  • Groq
  • Mistral AI
  • Azure OpenAI
  • OpenRouter
  • Hugging Face
  • Custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints

Alternatives to Jan

See all Jan alternatives →

Also Ranked In

Jan is ranked in 5 of our directories.

Used Jan? Be the first to review it

The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Jan for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears

Reviews come only from verified accounts. Sign in or create an account first — your e-mail is never shown.

Your rating

0 characters · at least 80, up to 3,000

Posted from your verified account. Reviews appear after an editor reads them, usually within two working days.

Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — Jan 6.4/10

Jan is listed in our AI Chatbots directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/jan/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/jan.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated · How we research and update