docs/src/pages/post/offline-chatgpt-alternative.mdx
import { Callout } from 'nextra/components' import CTABlog from '@/components/Blog/CTA'
ChatGPT requires internet because it runs on OpenAI's servers. For offline AI, you need local models running on your computer.
The fastest way: Jan - a free, open-source ChatGPT alternative that works 100% offline on Mac, Windows, and Linux.
3 steps to get started:
The guide below shows you exactly how, plus answers common questions about offline AI.
No. ChatGPT is cloud-only and always requires internet. OpenAI doesn't offer an offline download.
The solution: Download Jan and use offline AI models that work like ChatGPT - just without needing internet.
| Platform | Download | Works Offline |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | jan.exe | ✓ |
| macOS | jan.dmg | ✓ |
| Linux | jan.AppImage | ✓ |
Offline AI means the model runs on your computer. So no internet needed, 100% private, and data never leaves your device. With Jan you can run offline AI models locally.
Jan lets you use AI offline - no internet connection needed
Get started with offline AI in 3 simple steps:
Go to jan.ai and download the version for your computer (Mac, Windows, or Linux). It's completely free.
You'll need an AI model to use AI offline, so download a model from Jan. Once it's on your computer, you don't need internet anymore. You can also use GPT models via Jan - check running gpt-oss locally post to see it.
Select an AI model that matches your needs and computer capabilities
If you'd like to learn more about local AI, check how to run AI models locally as a beginner article.
Use Jan's clean interface to chat with AI - no internet required
Once downloaded, you can use AI anywhere, anytime:
Watch how Jan works as an offline ChatGPT alternative:
<div style={{ position: 'relative', paddingBottom: '56.25%', height: 0, overflow: 'hidden', maxWidth: '100%', marginTop: '1rem', marginBottom: '2rem' }}> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ES021_sY6WQ" style={{ position: 'absolute', top: 0, left: 0, width: '100%', height: '100%' }} frameBorder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowFullScreen /> </div>Simply add your files and ask questions about them.
Chat with your documents privately - no internet needed
I did this for you and got a reply from a 7B parameter model. If you'd like to learn what "7B" means and understand other local AI terms, check our guide on running AI models locally.
A response from AI, Qwen2.5 7B Instruct Q4:
This document appears to be about the benefits and advantages of running artificial intelligence (AI) models locally on your device rather than using cloud-based or remote AI services. The key points it highlights include data privacy, offline functionality, freedom from paywalls and restrictions, and giving users full control over their AI models. Additionally, the text mentions that local AI is becoming a new trend and provides a link to a guide for beginners who want to learn more about this topic.
Local AI makes possible offline AI use, so Jan is going to be your first step to get started.
Jan is completely free and open source. Built by developers who believe AI should be accessible to everyone. No subscriptions, no hidden costs.
Modern open-source models like DeepSeek and Mistral are very capable. While they might not match GPT-4, they're perfect for most tasks and getting better every month.
If your computer is from the last 5 years, it will likely work fine. You need about 8GB of RAM and 10GB of free space for comfortable usage.
Everything stays on your computer with Jan. Your conversations, documents, and data never leave your device unless you choose to share them.
Want to learn more about the technical side? Check our detailed guide on running AI models locally. It's not required to use AI offline but helps understand how it all works.
No. ChatGPT is cloud-only and cannot be downloaded.
You cannot use ChatGPT offline. Use Jan instead for a ChatGPT-like offline experience with local AI models.
ChatGPT itself cannot be downloaded. Download Jan from jan.ai as a free offline alternative that works without internet.
No. ChatGPT requires an internet connection to function.
Jan is the leading open-source offline AI. It runs models like DeepSeek, Mistral, and GPT-OSS locally on your computer.
Yes. Jan is completely free and open-source. Download from jan.ai.
Jan works on Windows 10 and 11. Download the .exe installer from jan.ai.
Jan works on macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon). Download the .dmg from jan.ai.
OpenAI has open-source models you can run locally (not via ChatGPT). One is gpt-oss - run it via Jan.