ChatGPTNextWeb/NextChat
✨ Light and Fast AI Assistant. Support: Web | iOS | MacOS | Android | Linux | Windows
NextChat is the most popular open-source cross-platform AI chat app from the ChatGPTNextWeb community, supporting ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Groq, and local Ollama models on Web, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux, and Windows. If you want one chat UI for every model and every device, this is it.
Our Review
NextChat is the most popular open-source cross-platform AI chat app on GitHub -- 88,000 stars and a remarkable 59,700 forks as of May 2026. Built in TypeScript with Next.js and Tauri by the ChatGPTNextWeb community and released under the MIT license, it gives you a single light and fast chat UI that talks to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Groq, and local Ollama models across Web, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux, and Windows.
What NextChat does:
- •Six-platform parity Web (browser), iOS, macOS, Android, Linux, Windows from a single codebase using Tauri for desktop and React Native for mobile.
- •Multi-LLM support ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Groq, plus local Ollama models from one chat UI with quick model switching mid-conversation.
- •One-click Vercel deploy spin up your own private instance in under five minutes with the official deploy template.
- •Markdown + LaTeX + code highlighting rendered responses look like a developer notes app, not a basic chatbot.
- •Custom themes and plugins community-built themes and a plugin system for extending behavior beyond stock chat.
- •Conversation export save chats as Markdown or shareable images for archiving and sharing.
- •Privacy-first API keys stored locally in the browser, no message data sent to NextChat servers when self-hosted.
NextChat ecosystem:
- •NextChat.club official hosted version at nextchat.club with one-click sign-in.
- •Vercel deploy template official template for spinning your own private instance.
- •Custom plugins community plugin registry for adding tools and integrations.
- •Mobile app stores official iOS and Android apps in the App Store and Google Play.
Getting started:
For the simplest path, deploy to Vercel with the official template (one click). For a desktop app, download from nextchat.club/download or the GitHub releases page. For mobile, install from the iOS App Store or Google Play. Once installed, add your OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or Ollama API endpoint and start chatting.
Limitations:
The most recent tagged release (v2.16.1) shipped in July 2025; the main branch is actively maintained but tagged releases lag. Some advanced features like custom plugins require manual configuration. NextChat is a chat UI, not a full agent platform, so there are no autonomous workflows or deep function calling beyond what the underlying model supports. The plugin ecosystem is smaller than community tools like LobeChat or Open WebUI.
Our Verdict
NextChat in 2026 is the default open-source choice when you want one beautiful chat UI for every major AI model and every device. 88,000 GitHub stars, 59,700 forks (one of the most-forked repos on GitHub), MIT license, and apps on every operating system.
For Vibe Builders, NextChat is the fastest way to have your own private AI chat that talks to Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and local Ollama models all from the same interface. One-click Vercel deploy means no server management. Pair with Ollama on your laptop for a fully local stack.
For Basic Users, the iOS and Android apps in the official app stores mean you do not need to deploy anything -- just install and add your API key. Markdown and LaTeX rendering make NextChat feel like a polished product rather than a community project.
Skip NextChat if you need autonomous agents or function calling -- NextChat is intentionally a chat UI, not an agent platform. Skip if you only use one model and the official app (Claude.ai or ChatGPT) covers your needs. For a more plugin-rich self-host option, LobeChat or Open WebUI may be a better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NextChat?
NextChat is the most popular open-source cross-platform AI chat app, built by the ChatGPTNextWeb community with TypeScript, Next.js, and Tauri. It supports ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Groq, and local Ollama models across Web, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux, and Windows. As of May 2026 it has 88,000 GitHub stars and 59,700 forks under the MIT license.
Is NextChat free?
Yes. NextChat is open source under the MIT license. The app itself is free. You still need API keys for the models you want to use (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq), or run local Ollama models for fully free inference. The official hosted version at nextchat.club has both free and paid tiers.
NextChat vs ChatGPT app -- which should I choose?
Choose NextChat when you want one chat UI for multiple models (Claude, Gemini, Groq, Ollama plus ChatGPT) and full control over your data via self-hosting. Choose the official ChatGPT app when you only use OpenAI models and want first-party features like custom GPTs and Memory built in directly.
How do I deploy NextChat?
The simplest path is one-click Vercel deploy with the official template, which spins up your private instance in under five minutes. For desktop, download from nextchat.club/download or GitHub Releases. For mobile, install the official iOS app from the App Store or Android app from Google Play. Add your API keys to start chatting.
Does NextChat support Ollama?
Yes. NextChat supports local Ollama models out of the box. Point NextChat at your local Ollama endpoint (default http://localhost:11434) and you get fully private offline inference with any model Ollama supports (Llama, Mistral, Gemma, Qwen, DeepSeek, and more). API keys for cloud models remain optional.
What license does NextChat use?
NextChat uses the MIT license.
What are alternatives to NextChat?
Explore related tools and alternatives on My AI Guide.
Open source & community-verified
MIT licensed: free to use in any project, no strings attached. 88,055 developers have starred this, meaning the community has reviewed and trusted it.
Reviewed by My AI Guide for relevance, quality, and active maintenance before listing.
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