Lobe Chat
A modern, extensible multi-model chat UI with plugins and knowledge base.
In short
- What it is: Chat UI, 60k+ GitHub stars, licensed MIT.
- Replaces: ChatGPT Plus — around $240/year saved.
- Installed for: $149 on your own server — you own it, no monthly platform fee.
- Licence: MIT. MIT/Apache-2.0 — white-label and resell freely.
$240
replaces per year
$1,200
saved over 5 years
$149
one-time install (yours forever)
48h
delivery
Lobe Chat vs the tools it replaces.
| Feature | Commercial tool | Lobe Chat (self-hosted) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $20/mo | Your compute only |
| Branding | Vendor brand | Yours |
| Data | Vendor-hosted | On your server |
| Licence | Proprietary | MIT |
Replaces
- ChatGPT Plus — ~$20/mo
Licence posture
MIT. You can white-label and resell this. We'll brand it as yours.
MIT/Apache-2.0 — white-label and resell freely.
Turn it into a business.
Bundle it into a branded product you sell: install, brand it, charge a setup fee plus a monthly care plan. Because the licence is permissive, you can strip the branding and resell it as your own.
Best for
Install difficulty
medium
The install, step by step.
Provision VPS + Docker
Configure secrets + provider keys
Database + storage setup
Branding + domain
HTTPS + backups
Smoke test + handover
Watch a Lobe Chat install.
We generate an architecture diagram of the repo and walk through the deployment. Enter your name and email to unlock the demo.
Install Lobe Chat — $149.
Flat fee, delivered in 24–48 hours, on your own server, with HTTPS, backups and the AI keys wired.
Lobe Chat: common questions
What does Lobe Chat replace?
ChatGPT Plus — about $240 a year in subscriptions you stop paying.
How much does it cost to run Lobe Chat?
No licence fee — it ships under MIT. You pay only for your own server and any model/API keys. We install, harden and hand it over for a one-time $149.
Can I white-label and resell Lobe Chat?
You can white-label and resell this. We'll brand it as yours. MIT/Apache-2.0 — white-label and resell freely.
How hard is the install, and how long does it take?
We rate it medium. Delivered in 24–48 hours on your own server, with HTTPS, backups and the AI keys wired.
What do I actually own after installing Lobe Chat?
The running app, your data and the brand. No monthly platform fee and no per-seat pricing — you own it outright.
Other repos people install with Lobe Chat.
LibreChat
A full multi-model ChatGPT-style interface with auth, multi-user and presets.
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Chat UIOpen WebUI
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Chat UIChatbot UI
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Chat UIChainlit
Build conversational AI apps in Python with a polished UI.
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Chat UIJan
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Chat UIGPT4All
Run local LLMs on any laptop, with a chat UI and docs.
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