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Open WebUI vs LibreChat (2025): Which Open-Source AI Chat Platform Is Better for You?

  • Philip Moses
  • 2 hours ago
  • 3 min read

In 2025, more people are looking for private, flexible, and open-source AI chat platforms that work like ChatGPT—but without the limits. Two popular names in this space are Open WebUI and LibreChat.

In this blog, we’ll look at what each platform does, how they work, their main features, and which one might suit you better—whether you’re a beginner, developer, or just curious about AI.

Let’s explore the difference between Open WebUI and LibreChat in simple terms.

What Are Open WebUI and LibreChat?

Both Open WebUI and LibreChat are open-source tools that let you chat with AI models.They look and feel like ChatGPT, but you can host them on your own computer or server.

  • Open WebUI is designed for people who want to run AI models locally or offline. It works well with open-source models like LLaMA, Mistral, or Ollama.

  • LibreChat is an open-source ChatGPT clone that connects to many AI services—like OpenAI GPT, Google Gemini, or Anthropic Claude—in one place.

Both are made for people who want more control, privacy, and customization compared to commercial AI platforms.

Purpose and Use Cases

  • LibreChat is ideal for people who want a ChatGPT-like experience but with more freedom—great for teams, writers, or businesses that use multiple AI models.

  • Open WebUI is better for those who prefer running AI locally for privacy or offline use, such as developers, researchers, or tech-savvy users.

If you want a ready-to-use interface, go for LibreChat.If you want to experiment and keep everything private, Open WebUI is for you.

Main Features (2025 Overview)

🧠 1. Chat Interface

Both have clean, modern chat windows.LibreChat looks almost identical to ChatGPT, so it’s very easy to use.Open WebUI also offers a smooth layout that works on phones and desktops.


⚙️ 2. Model Support

  • LibreChat: Connects to multiple AI services (OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, etc.).

  • Open WebUI: Works both online and offline; supports local AI models through Ollama or APIs.


🧩 3. Extra Tools

  • LibreChat:

    • Save prompts in a prompt library.

    • “Fork” conversations to test new ideas.

    • Add images and use multimodal AI.

  • Open WebUI:

    • Supports document search and web browsing inside chat.

    • Generate images with built-in tools.

    • Offers voice and video chat options.


🎨 4. Customization

Both let you personalize the chat experience:

  • LibreChat uses plugins and prompt templates.

  • Open WebUI offers deeper control—you can even add your own scripts or pipelines.


🔒 5. Privacy

  • LibreChat: Data stays on your own server.

  • Open WebUI: Can run completely offline—your chats never leave your device.


🌐 6. Community

As of 2025:

  • LibreChat has 30K+ stars on GitHub and frequent updates.

  • Open WebUI has over 100K stars and a large, active user base.

Both have strong support communities with guides and open discussions.

Ease of Setup

Setting up both tools takes a few steps.

  • LibreChat usually installs using Docker and API keys.

  • Open WebUI can be installed using Docker or Python (pip) and has easier one-click setup options.

Once installed, you access them through your web browser just like any website.

Who Should Use Which?

Type of User

Best Choice

Why

  • Beginners

LibreChat

Familiar, simple ChatGPT-like interface

  • Privacy-focused users

Open WebUI

Can run offline with full control

  • Developers

Open WebUI

Offers deep customization and script tools

  • Teams and Companies

LibreChat

User roles, multi-model chat, moderation tools

  • Experimenters

Open WebUI

Integrates voice, image, and custom AI models

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Feature

Open WebUI

LibreChat

  • Offline Access

✅ Yes

❌ No

  • Multi-Model Support

✅ Yes (Local + APIs)

✅ Yes (APIs)

  • Setup Simplicity

⚙️ Moderate

⚙️ Moderate

  • Interface Familiarity

👍 Simple

⭐ Very familiar (like ChatGPT)

  • Customization Level

🔧 Advanced

🔧 Medium

  • Privacy

🔒 Very High

🔒 High

  • Community Support

🌍 Large

🌍 Active

Final Thoughts (2025 Update)

Both Open WebUI and LibreChat are great open-source AI chat platforms in 2025.Your choice depends on what you value most:

  • Pick LibreChat if you want a simple, ChatGPT-like tool with cloud AI integrations.

  • Pick Open WebUI if you want privacy, offline access, and deep customization.

Either way, both are excellent ways to bring AI to your own space—without limits, subscriptions, or data worries.

 
 
 

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