Chatbox
Chatbox is a desktop chat client for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and other models on Windows, Mac and Linux, with iOS, Android and web versions. This repository is its Community Edition under GPL-3.0, synced with a separate pro edition. You bring your own API keys or local Ollama models, conversations stay on your device, and it adds a prompt library, DALL-E 3 images, and a way to share one API key across a team.
What does Chatbox do?
Chatbox's README calls it "your ultimate AI copilot on the desktop" and "a desktop client for ChatGPT, Claude and other LLMs, available on Windows, Mac, Linux." Providers listed are OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Claude, Google Gemini, Ollama for local models, and ChatGLM-6B. Data stays local: "Your data remains on your device, ensuring it never gets lost and maintains your privacy."
It generates images with DALL-E 3, keeps a prompt library, quotes messages, renders Markdown, LaTeX and code, streams replies, and has keyboard shortcuts and a dark theme. Team collaboration means sharing OpenAI API resources across a team. A web version and native iOS and Android apps exist, and the interface lists 9 languages. The README describes this as the Community Edition and says "We regularly sync code from the pro repo to this repo, and vice versa." It does not describe document chat, web search, MCP or voice.
Key facts
- Licence: GPL-3.0, unmodified. The README calls this repository the Chatbox Community Edition; a separate pro codebase exists and code syncs both ways.
- Providers: OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Claude, Google Gemini, Ollama for local models, and ChatGLM-6B.
- Conversations stored on your device.
- Image generation with DALL-E 3; a prompt library; Markdown, LaTeX and code highlighting.
- Team collaboration: share OpenAI API resources among a team.
- Platforms: Windows 10 x64, macOS 11 on Intel and Apple Silicon, Linux Ubuntu 20.04 or AppImage, iOS, Android and web.
- The repository moved from Bin-Huang/chatbox to chatboxai/chatbox.
- Latest tagged release when read: v1.23.3 on 2026-09-16; 41,795 stars on 2026-09-17.
What does it replace, and where does it fall short?
Chatbox replaces the ChatGPT and Claude apps for someone who wants one client for both, plus Gemini and local Ollama models, on every desktop and phone, with conversations stored on the device rather than in a vendor's account. It is the pick for desktop and mobile on the open-source alternatives to ChatGPT page.
Where it falls short: the README describes no document chat, web search, MCP or voice, which the hosted apps have. The open code is the community edition of a product with a separate pro codebase, and the README does not spell out what differs. For documents and agents on the desktop, AnythingLLM or Cherry Studio.
How does Chatbox run?
Download the installer for Windows, macOS or Linux, or the iOS or Android app, and add an API key for the providers you use or point it at Ollama. Building from source is an Electron app that needs Node.js 20 to 22 and pnpm 10. The README mentions a web version and a pro repository but states no prices.
Who is Chatbox for?
Someone who wants a single chat app across laptop and phone for several providers and local models, with nothing stored in the cloud. A team that needs a shared server with sign-in should use Open WebUI or LibreChat.
What limits does the README state?
The README's troubleshooting section covers only build problems; it states no product limitations.
Questions people ask
Is Chatbox open source?
The Community Edition in this repository is, under GPL-3.0 with no added conditions. The README says code is synced both ways with a separate pro repository, so some of what the product offers may live in that edition; the README does not list the differences.
Does Chatbox work with local models?
Yes, through Ollama, which the README lists for local models such as Llama 2, Mistral, Mixtral and Code Llama. It also connects to OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Claude, Google Gemini and ChatGLM with your own keys.
Is Chatbox available on phones?
Yes. The README lists native iOS and Android apps and a web version, alongside the desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux. Conversations are stored on the device you use.
How does Chatbox compare with the ChatGPT app?
Chatbox gives you one app for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and local models, on every platform, with your data kept on the device and your own keys. The ChatGPT app includes OpenAI's search, voice and documents. The open-source alternatives to ChatGPT page compares Chatbox with the other clients.
Where is the Chatbox repository?
At chatboxai/chatbox; the older Bin-Huang/chatbox address redirects there. The README describes it as the Community Edition and names chatboxai.app as the website. The stats on this page are read from the current location.
Sources
- Chatbox README and GPL-3.0 LICENSE: github.com/chatboxai/chatbox, read 2026-09-17.
Compared with the others
On the open-source alternatives to ChatGPT page, Chatbox is the pick for one app across desktop and phone. GPL-3.0 client for OpenAI, Claude, Gemini and local Ollama models on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with conversations stored on the device.
Also on that page: Open WebUI for a private chatgpt for a whole team, LibreChat for every provider in one mit platform, AnythingLLM for chatting with your documents.
On the open-source alternatives to Claude page, Chatbox is the pick for one app across desktop and phone. GPL-3.0 client for OpenAI, Claude, Gemini and local Ollama models on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with conversations stored on the device.
Also on that page: LibreChat for claude plus agents, artifacts and a code sandbox, Cherry Studio for many providers and 300+ assistants in one desktop app, AnythingLLM for chatting with your documents.
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Added September 17, 2026. Every claim above comes from the project's README, LICENSE or model card, read on September 17, 2026, or from the GitHub API on the date shown in the panel. Found an error? Write to reveneau@licheo.com and it is fixed in the next weekly pass. Repository: github.com/chatboxai/chatbox.
Running one of these inside your own environment, with your own data and your own security rules, is the kind of work Reveneau does. Read how a forward deployed engagement works.