Open-WebUI — Self-Hosted, Open-Source
User-friendly AI Interface, supports Ollama, OpenAI API.
Open-WebUI is commonly used as a self-hosted alternative to ChatGPT. Replacing a SaaS tool with a self-hosted equivalent lets you avoid recurring subscription fees, keep full control of your data, and continue working even when the original vendor changes pricing, ships limits, or shuts down.
License: BSD-3-Clause. Built with: Python, Svelte, JavaScript, TypeScript, CSS, Shell, Dockerfile, HTML, Batchfile, Mako. Website: https://openwebui.com. Source: https://github.com/open-webui/open-webui.
Features
- 🚀 Effortless Setup: Install seamlessly using Docker or Kubernetes (kubectl, kustomize or helm) for a hassle-free experience with support for both :ollama and :cuda tagged images.
- 🤝 Ollama/OpenAI API Integration: Effortlessly integrate OpenAI-compatible APIs for versatile conversations alongside Ollama models. Customize the OpenAI API URL to link with LMStudio, GroqCloud, Mistral, OpenRouter, and more.
- 📱 Responsive Design: Enjoy a seamless experience across Desktop PC, Laptop, and Mobile devices.
- 📱 Progressive Web App (PWA) for Mobile: Enjoy a native app-like experience on your mobile device with our PWA, providing offline access on localhost and a seamless user interface.
- ✒️🔢 Full Markdown and LaTeX Support: Elevate your LLM experience with comprehensive Markdown and LaTeX capabilities for enriched interaction.
- 🛠️ Model Builder: Easily create Ollama models via the Web UI. Create and add custom characters/agents, customize chat elements, and import models effortlessly through Open WebUI Community integration.
- 🐍 Native Python Function Calling Tool: Enhance your LLMs with built-in code editor support in the tools workspace. Bring Your Own Function (BYOF) by simply adding your pure Python functions, enabling seamless integration with LLMs.
- 💾 Persistent Artifact Storage: Built-in key-value storage API for artifacts, enabling features like journals, trackers, leaderboards, and collaborative tools with both personal and shared data scopes across sessions.
- 🎨 Image Generation & Editing Integration: Create and edit images using multiple engines including OpenAI's DALL-E, Gemini, ComfyUI (local), and AUTOMATIC1111 (local), with support for both generation and prompt-based editing workflows.
- ⚙️ Many Models Conversations: Effortlessly engage with various models simultaneously, harnessing their unique strengths for optimal responses. Enhance your experience by leveraging a diverse set of models in parallel.
Installation
docker run -d -p 3000:8080 --add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway -v open-webui:/app/backend/data --name open-webui --restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main
Why self-host Open-WebUI
Self-hosting gives you three things SaaS can’t: data ownership (the files live on disks you control), cost predictability (a one-time setup vs. recurring per-seat fees that grow with your household or team), and longevity (open-source means the app keeps working even if the maintainers move on, since you can pin a working version). The trade-off is that you take on the operational work of running a server, applying updates, and handling backups.
What hardware do you need
Most self-hosted apps run comfortably on modest hardware — a Raspberry Pi 4, a mini PC, a NAS with Docker support, or a small VPS is usually enough for personal or family use. CPU and RAM requirements scale with how many simultaneous users or how much data you push through Open-WebUI. Storage requirements depend on the kind of data you keep; check the README for guidance on data retention.
Last verified: 2026-04-22