Chatbox
Open-source desktop AI chat client that supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and local models via Ollama.
Chatbox is an open-source desktop AI chat client that supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and local models via Ollama. Open-source desktop client available on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
About Chatbox
Chatbox is an open-source desktop AI chat client that connects to OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and local models via Ollama.
Its edge is provider flexibility on your own machine: it is open-source, runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, works with multiple LLM providers including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, and Google Gemini, and supports local model inference through Ollama for offline use.
It fits users who already have API keys and want one client across providers, plus offline local models. It fits poorly for anyone who wants a bundled free allowance or a browser or phone client: it uses a bring-your-own-key model with no included free tier, is desktop-only with no web or mobile version, and depends on third-party API availability and provider pricing.
Within AI Chatbots & Assistants it is a bring-your-own-key desktop front-end rather than a hosted first-party chat service.
Sources: chatboxai.app, this listing
Chatbox pros and cons
Pros
- Open-source desktop client available on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
- Supports multiple LLM providers including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, and Google Gemini.
- Supports local model inference through Ollama for offline use.
- Free to download and use with a bring-your-own-key model.
Cons
- Requires users to supply their own API keys, with no bundled free tier included.
- Desktop-only client with no web or mobile version available.
- Dependent on third-party API availability and provider pricing changes.
Tagged
- Bring Your Own Key
- Supports Claude
- Supports GPT
- Supports Gemini
- Supports Local Models
- Free
- Open Source
Chatbox alternatives
More from AI Chatbots & Assistants.
- 01Freemium →Msty
Desktop AI chat app that connects to Ollama, OpenAI, Anthropic, and any custom endpoint with one interface.
- 02Free →LM Studio
Desktop app to discover, download, and run local LLMs with a polished chat UI and OpenAI-compatible server.
- 03Free →Ollama
Local LLM runner — pull and run Llama, Qwen, Mistral, DeepSeek, and other open models with one command.
- 04Free →Open WebUI
Self-hostable web UI for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible endpoints — feels like ChatGPT, runs on your own server.
- 05Free →DuckDuckGo AI Chat
Privacy-focused chat front-end for GPT, Claude, Llama, and Mixtral with no logged identity.
- 06Freemium →Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's consumer AI assistant — Copilot in Windows, Edge sidebar, and across Microsoft 365.
Related reading
Featured on Vibedonalds
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</a>Frequently asked questions
- What is Chatbox?
- Chatbox is an open-source desktop AI chat client that supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and local models via Ollama.
- Is Chatbox free?
- Chatbox is free to use. There is no paid tier as of the last index update.
- What platforms does Chatbox support?
- Chatbox runs on mac, win, linux.
- What are the alternatives to Chatbox?
- Similar tools in AI Chatbots & Assistants on vibedonalds: Msty, LM Studio, Ollama, Open WebUI.
- What are the downsides of Chatbox?
- Requires users to supply their own API keys, with no bundled free tier included. Desktop-only client with no web or mobile version available. Dependent on third-party API availability and provider pricing changes.