The Best Open-Source ChatGPT Interfaces: LobeChat vs Open WebUI vs LibreChat

The ChatGPT interface has become the standard for how we interact with AI. That clean chat bubble layout, the markdown rendering, the ability to switch models mid-conversation—we all expect it now.

Here's what's interesting: that interface is no longer proprietary. A wave of open-source projects now delivers the same experience, often better, without sending your data to OpenAI's servers.

If you're evaluating self-hosted AI chat frontends, these are the three worth your time.

The Contenders

LobeChat

GitHub Stars: 50k+ | First Release: 2023

LobeChat is the most polished of the bunch. It looks like ChatGPT's premium sibling—sleek animations, beautiful typography, and a design that would make any SaaS product jealous.

Standout Features:

• Plugin ecosystem with 100+ extensions (web browsing, image generation, code execution)
• Multi-model conversations (switch providers mid-chat)
• Knowledge base integration for RAG
• Mobile-responsive design that actually works
• Built-in TTS and STT for voice interactions

Best For: Teams wanting a production-ready interface that impresses users. If you're building a customer-facing AI product, LobeChat's polish matters.

Open WebUI

GitHub Stars: 45k+ | First Release: 2023

Open WebUI (formerly Ollama WebUI) started as a simple frontend for Ollama and evolved into a feature-packed alternative. It's less flashy than LobeChat but more pragmatic.

Standout Features:

• Native Ollama integration (one-click model downloads)
• Document upload and RAG built-in
• User management and access controls
• Conversation branching (explore different response paths)
• Lightweight Docker image (~200MB)

Best For: Developers running local LLMs who want minimal friction. If you're already using Ollama, Open WebUI feels like its natural companion.

LibreChat

GitHub Stars: 20k+ | First Release: 2023

LibreChat aims to be a drop-in ChatGPT replacement. It focuses on API compatibility and supports more providers than either competitor.

Standout Features:

• Supports OpenAI, Azure, Anthropic, Google, and 15+ other providers
• Plugins compatible with ChatGPT's plugin spec
• Conversation search and organization
• Presets and custom endpoints
• Multi-user with granular permissions

Best For: Organizations using multiple AI providers who need a unified interface. LibreChat's breadth of integrations is unmatched.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose LobeChat if:

• Design and UX are priorities
• You need a rich plugin ecosystem
• You're building something customer-facing

Choose Open WebUI if:

• You're running Ollama locally
• You want the simplest setup
• Resource efficiency matters

Choose LibreChat if:

• You use multiple AI providers
• You need ChatGPT plugin compatibility
• Enterprise features like audit logs matter

The Bigger Picture

What's happening here is commoditization. The ChatGPT interface—once OpenAI's moat—is now table stakes. Any of these three projects delivers 90% of the ChatGPT experience.

The real differentiation is moving elsewhere: to the models themselves (Llama, Mistral, Claude), to specialized workflows (RAG, agents, tool use), and to data privacy.

This is actually great news for self-hosters. You get a ChatGPT-quality interface, connect it to whatever model you want (including fully local ones), and keep your conversations completely private.

Deployment Options

All three projects deploy easily with Docker:

LobeChat:

docker run -d -p 3210:3210 lobehub/lobe-chat

Open WebUI:

docker run -d -p 3000:8080 ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main

LibreChat:

git clone https://github.com/danny-avila/LibreChat
cd LibreChat && docker-compose up -d

For production deployments with managed updates, backups, and SSL, you can deploy any of these on Elest.io. Check out LobeChat on Elestio for a one-click setup that handles the infrastructure for you.

What About Dify and FlowiseAI?

You might wonder where Dify or FlowiseAI fit in. They're different tools solving different problems.

LobeChat, Open WebUI, and LibreChat are chat interfaces—they present a conversation UI for interacting with LLMs.

Dify and FlowiseAI are workflow builders—they let you create multi-step AI pipelines, RAG systems, and custom agents. They often have a chat component, but it's not their primary focus.

The tools complement each other. Many teams use Dify to build their AI backend and LobeChat or Open WebUI as the user-facing interface.

Final Thoughts

The ChatGPT interface war is effectively over. Open-source won. Whether you pick LobeChat for its polish, Open WebUI for its simplicity, or LibreChat for its flexibility, you're getting a world-class AI chat experience without the subscription fees or privacy concerns.

My recommendation? Start with Open WebUI if you're using Ollama locally. Graduate to LobeChat if you need something more polished. Consider LibreChat if you're juggling multiple AI providers.

All three are excellent choices. The best part? You can switch between them whenever you want—your conversations and models stay under your control.

Thanks for reading. See you in the next one.