Free AI assistants: limits and conditions
Most AI assistants offer a limited free tier (number of messages, available models) and require an account. Open models can be used on your own computer without an account. The table separates these cases clearly.
Data as of 10 November 2026 · 30 resources selected, all published after their official site and free status were verified at a reliable source.
Choose by need
Only tools whose capability is established under the same rules as their listings are shown here: a page from their authors (website, repository, Steam page), an app catalogue listing (Flathub, F-Droid, Winget, Debian package, SourceForge) or a Wikipedia article, read automatically; the source and reading date are shown for each.
Ready-to-use service
A website or app from the publisher: nothing to install, but your messages go to its servers and the free plan is capped.
- ChatGPTLimited free plan · Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and the web · Online (data sent to a server) · Paid subscriptions offered by the publisher.source (chatgpt.com, free plan (ChatGPT Free)) read on 10 November 2026
- ClaudeLimited free plan · Android, iOS and the web · Online (data sent to a server) · account requiredsource (claude.com, free plan (Free)) read on 10 November 2026
Local AI, on your computer
The model runs on your machine, offline once downloaded: you need enough memory (ideally a graphics card), and each model has its own licence.
- LM StudioLimited free plan · Windows, macOS and Linux · Installed on the device · Free plan: basic features are free; others are reserved for paid plans. · Paid subscriptions from 20 $ per month (price read on the official page).source (lmstudio.ai, desktop app) read on 10 November 2026
- JanCompletely free · Windows, macOS and Linux · Installed on the device · no accountsource (github.com, desktop app) read on 10 November 2026
- NewelleCompletely free · Linux · Installed on the device · no accountsource (github.com) read on 10 November 2026
- GPT4AllCompletely free · Windows, macOS and Linux · Installed on the device · no accountsource (nomic.ai, desktop app) read on 10 November 2026
- QV.ACCompletely free · Linux · Installed on the device · no accountsource (github.com) read on 10 November 2026
- OllamaCompletely free · Windows, macOS and Linux · Installed on the device · no accountsource (ollama.com, desktop app) read on 10 November 2026
Interface to connect to a model
A free interface that does not provide a model: you connect it to a local model or to an API, which may be paid.
- Open WebUICompletely free · Windows and Linux · Installed on the device · no accountsource (docs.openwebui.com, self-hosted interface) read on 10 November 2026
Full guide catalogue (30 tools, not individually qualified)
| Resource | Pricing | Account required | Commercial use | License | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 5 November 2026 |
| Newelle | Completely free | No | Yes | GPL-3.0-or-later | 5 November 2026 |
| Reins: Chat for Ollama | Completely free | Not verified | Yes | GPL-3.0-only | 6 November 2026 |
| GPT4All | Completely free | No | Yes | MIT | 6 November 2026 |
| Cherry Studio | Completely free | No | Yes | AGPL-3.0-only | 6 November 2026 |
| Whisper | Completely free | Not verified | Yes | GPL-3.0-or-later | 6 November 2026 |
| Follamac | Completely free | Not verified | Yes | MIT | 7 November 2026 |
| MindMate | Completely free | Not verified | Yes | GPL-3.0-or-later | 7 November 2026 |
| ChatQT | Completely free | Not verified | Yes | GPL-3.0-or-later | 7 November 2026 |
| QV.AC | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 7 November 2026 |
| Writing Tools | Completely free | Not verified | Yes | GPL-3.0-only | 7 November 2026 |
| Ollama | Completely free | No | Yes | MIT | 5 November 2026 |
| lfy | Completely free | Not verified | Yes | GPL-3.0-or-later | 8 November 2026 |
| ai-file-sorter | Completely free | No | Yes | AGPL-3.0-only | 6 November 2026 |
| row-bot | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 10 November 2026 |
| IncarnaMind | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 7 November 2026 |
| headroom-desktop | Completely free | No | Yes | MIT | 6 November 2026 |
| lampOS | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 6 November 2026 |
| nihaixia-app | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 8 November 2026 |
| HoldSpeak | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 10 November 2026 |
| agenticos | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 8 November 2026 |
| EnviousWispr | Completely free | No | Yes | GPL-3.0-only | 9 November 2026 |
| buddy-android | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 10 November 2026 |
| bothouse | Completely free | No | Yes | Apache-2.0 | 7 November 2026 |
| HilbertRaum | Completely free | No | Yes | GPL-3.0-only | 8 November 2026 |
| llamadart | Completely free | No | Yes | MIT | 8 November 2026 |
| WeChatExporter | Completely free | No | Yes | MIT | 8 November 2026 |
| whisper-shortcut | Completely free | No | Yes | AGPL-3.0-only | 9 November 2026 |
| ChatGPT-Workflows | Completely free | No | Yes | MIT | 6 November 2026 |
| AutoDoc | Completely free | No | Yes | AGPL-3.0-only | 9 November 2026 |
What the data shows
- 30 of 30 are open source.
- 23 of 30 work without an account (verified).
- 30 of 30 are verified usable in a work context.
Good to know
Do not share personal or confidential data with an online assistant without reading its terms on how your conversations are used.
How this list is built
Order: most complete free offer first (no strings, then with conditions, then limited free version), then a popularity index computed from public signals (installs in official catalogues, repository stars, presence in several sources). No position can be bought.