Jan

Free

Jan is a desktop app that lets you run AI language models on your own computer. You can use it offline with local models or plug in cloud APIs when you need them.

You pick a model from the built-in hub, download it, and start chatting. The interface looks like ChatGPT, so there is little to learn.

It is built for people who want privacy and control. If you want someone else to run the AI for you, this adds work you do not need.

Open it if you handle sensitive data or want to skip API bills. Skip it if you want the fastest answers without managing hardware.

These are the jobs where Jan changes what you can do.

• Privacy-conscious individuals: Your prompts stay on your machine. You stop worrying about cloud logs or NDAs.
• Researchers with sensitive data: You run models on lab machines. Your datasets never hit an external server.
• Developers experimenting with open models: You test Llama, Mistral, and others without API keys. You swap models in minutes.
• Small business owners: You avoid monthly API bills. You pay once for hardware, not per token.
• People who travel often: You draft and code on flights. No Wi-Fi is no problem.
• Teams with compliance concerns: You shut down "shadow AI" risks. You keep all AI work inside your network.
• Developers who want a local API: You point VS Code or Cursor at localhost:1337. Your tools work without cloud credit checks.
• Users curious about local models: You skip command-line setups like Ollama. You get a normal app window instead.

These parts keep you coming back after the first try.

• ChatGPT-like interface: You do not relearn anything. Your team adapts in one session.
• OpenAI-compatible local API: Your existing tools connect without rewrites. You drop Jan into workflows built for GPT.
• Model hub with clear labels: You see RAM needs upfront. You avoid downloading files your machine cannot run.
• Built on Tauri, not Electron: The app feels lighter than you expect. You notice the snappy load times.
• Runs 100% offline: You work on planes, in secure rooms, or during outages. You stop planning around connectivity.

You are up in minutes, not hours.

1. Download the installer for your system and open the app.
2. Browse the model hub and pick one that matches your RAM.
3. Download the model and wait for the checkmark.
4. Start typing in the chat window.
5. Enable the local API in settings if you want to connect other tools.

Skip it when these limits block your work.

• Speed depends on your hardware: CPU-only setups feel slow. You need a recent Mac or GPU for smooth chats.
• Model quality drops with size: Small local models miss nuance that Claude or GPT-4 catch. You trade privacy for depth.
• Large models tax your machine: Fans spin loud on laptops. You may throttle performance to keep working.
• Security is your job: The local server lacks built-in auth. You must add your own reverse proxy or risk drive-by attacks.
• Context windows shrink on consumer hardware: Long documents exceed what fits. You chunk work or buy more RAM.