Open WebUI

Open WebUI is a self-hosted AI interface for teams that want one place to run local models, cloud models, conversations, and tools. It connects to Ollama, OpenAI, Anthropic, and compatible providers while keeping user control. The public code is source-available under the Open WebUI License. Since v0.6.6, its branding restriction means it is not OSI-approved open source.

Key Highlights

• Connects local and cloud models in one web interface
• Supports Ollama, OpenAI, Anthropic, and compatible providers
• Includes voice, vision, retrieval, generation, and search workflows
• Extends through Python for custom tools and functions
• Provides enterprise options such as SSO, RBAC, audit logs, and private deployment patterns
• Large public community: 427K+ members, 290M+ downloads, and 141K+ GitHub stars

What Makes It Different

Open WebUI is positioned around ownership. Instead of sending every AI workflow through a hosted chat product, you can run the interface yourself, connect the models you choose, and decide whether it lives locally, in the cloud, or in a hybrid environment.

That makes it different from simple chatbot front ends. It combines conversations, model access, prompts, tools, functions, retrieval, search, voice, and vision.

Features & Capabilities

The core workflow is a shared web UI for working with different models. A team can connect local Ollama models, add cloud providers when needed, and keep the same conversation and tool layer across both. The community hub adds shared prompts, models, tools, functions, discussions, and reviews.

For organizations, Open WebUI supports controlled deployments. Deployment options include on-premise, private cloud, hybrid, and air-gapped options, plus LDAP, Active Directory, SSO, RBAC, audit logs, high availability architecture, and dedicated support.

User Ratings and Testimonials

Open WebUI does not publish a third-party average rating. Open WebUI's own site points to community scale and enterprise stories, including secure self-hosted deployments and a university stack serving tens of thousands of students and employees.

The main tradeoff is operational. Because Open WebUI is self-hosted, teams are responsible for deployment, model access, data controls, uptime, and compliance decisions instead of buying a fully managed chat app.

Pricing & Value

• Standard use: $0, free to use as-is when the original branding stays intact
• Enterprise licensing: Contact sales, for organizations that need additional licensing or support. Branding changes are also permitted for deployments of 50 or fewer users within a rolling 30-day period
• Sponsorship: Optional, for users that want to support ongoing development without needing an enterprise license

Open WebUI is strongest for teams that want control over where AI runs and which models it uses. Open WebUI does not publish a public USD price for enterprise licensing.