Open WebUI vs OpenChat

Side-by-side comparison of two AI agent tools

Short answer

  • OpenChat has had no commit in 31 months; Open WebUI is actively maintained (1,515 commits in the last 90 days).
  • Open WebUI is growing faster: +3,930 GitHub stars in the last 30 days vs +-5 for OpenChat.
  • Pick Open WebUI for: user-friendly AI Interface (Supports Ollama, OpenAI API, ...). Pick OpenChat for: lLMs custom-chatbots console.

From GitHub data refreshed daily.

User-friendly AI Interface (Supports Ollama, OpenAI API, ...)

OpenChatopen-source

LLMs custom-chatbots console ⚡

Metrics

Open WebUIOpenChat
Stars153.9k5.2k
Star velocity /mo3.9k-5.210526315789474
Commits (90d)1.5k0
Releases (6m)100
Overall score0.87748297058228910.106547751794535

Pros

  • +Multi-provider AI integration supporting both local Ollama models and remote OpenAI-compatible APIs in a single interface
  • +Self-hosted deployment with complete offline capability ensuring data privacy and security control
  • +Enterprise-grade user management with granular permissions, user groups, and admin controls for organizational deployment
  • +Multiple data source support (PDFs, websites, codebases) for creating highly specialized and context-aware chatbots
  • +Easy deployment options including website widgets and URL sharing for broad accessibility across different platforms
  • +Unlimited memory capacity per chatbot enabling handling of large documents and complex multi-turn conversations

Cons

  • -Requires technical expertise for initial setup and maintenance of Docker/Kubernetes infrastructure
  • -Self-hosting demands dedicated server resources and ongoing system administration
  • -Limited to local deployment model, lacking the convenience of managed cloud AI services
  • -Currently limited to GPT models only, with open-source alternatives still in development
  • -Frontend is being rewritten suggesting potential stability issues with current user interface
  • -Some advanced integrations like Slack and Intercom are still in development phase

Use Cases

  • •Enterprise organizations deploying private AI assistants with strict data governance and user access controls
  • •Development teams building local AI workflows with multiple model providers while maintaining code and data privacy
  • •Educational institutions providing students and faculty with controlled AI access without external data sharing
  • •Customer support automation by creating chatbots trained on company documentation, FAQs, and knowledge bases
  • •Developer assistance through pair programming mode using entire codebases as knowledge sources for code review and debugging
  • •Internal knowledge management by transforming company documents, procedures, and training materials into interactive AI assistants

FAQ

Which is more popular, Open WebUI or OpenChat?
Open WebUI has more GitHub stars (153,853 vs 5,228).
Which is more actively developed, Open WebUI or OpenChat?
Open WebUI had more commits in the last 90 days (1,515 vs 0).
Should I use Open WebUI or OpenChat?
Compare their capabilities, limitations and "best for" notes above. Trying each on a small task is the fastest way to decide.