Jan

Jan is a free, open-source desktop application that lets you run large language models directly on your own computer. Think of it as a private ChatGPT replacement — no cloud servers, no data leaving your machine, and no subscription fees. You download the app, pick a model from their built-in catalog or HuggingFace, and start chatting immediately. Everything runs offline, so you can use it on a plane, in a basement, or anywhere without an internet connection.

Getting started is straightforward. After installing Jan (available for Mac, Windows, and Linux), you browse available models right inside the app — from tiny 1B parameter models that run on laptops to larger ones that need more horsepower. Jan supports multiple inference engines like llama.cpp and MLX, and you can connect to remote providers like Nebius or HuggingFace if you want extra flexibility. The interface is clean and minimal, designed to feel more like a friendly chat app than a developer tool. Recent versions also include web search and MCP (Model Context Protocol) support, letting the AI fetch real-time information when needed.

Jan is ideal for privacy-conscious users, developers who want to experiment with open-source models without API costs, and anyone who wants a reliable AI assistant that works offline. It's also a great choice for teams that need to keep sensitive data on-premises. With over 4 million downloads and 43,000+ GitHub stars, Jan has become a go-to tool for local AI — simple enough for non-technical users, flexible enough for power users.