In short. Pick Open WebUI for the fastest Ollama-first setup, LibreChat for multi-provider and team deployments, and AnythingLLM for document chat or a desktop app. All three are open-source, self-hosted AI chat interfaces. Open WebUI runs as one container, while LibreChat needs a six-service Docker stack and AnythingLLM needs 2 GB of RAM before any model loads.
LibreChat vs Open WebUI is the comparison most people start with, and AnythingLLM is the third name that keeps appearing next to them. They differ in their center of gravity: Open WebUI leans toward Ollama and local models, and LibreChat toward many providers and shared teams. AnythingLLM is built around your own documents. This comparison covers features, RAG, users, Docker footprint and when each project wins.
LibreChat vs Open WebUI vs AnythingLLM at a glance
AnythingLLM vs Open WebUI is mostly a question of documents versus models. Open WebUI vs LibreChat is a question of local-first simplicity versus multi-provider breadth. The table shows where each project lands on the dimensions that decide most self-hosting choices.
| Dimension | Open WebUI | LibreChat | AnythingLLM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Ollama-first setups and local models | Teams using many providers | Document chat and a desktop option |
| Backends | Ollama, OpenAI-compatible APIs, Anthropic | Any OpenAI-compatible API, plus Ollama, Groq, DeepSeek and more | Ollama, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Azure, Bedrock |
| RAG and document chat | Hybrid search (BM25 plus vectors) with reranking | File search with an optional RAG API | Workspaces that each hold their own documents |
| Multi-user and auth | Roles, groups, OIDC, LDAP, SCIM 2.0 | Multi-user with OIDC, SAML, LDAP and social logins | Docker edition only, with role-based permissions |
| Agents and tools | Python tools, MCP, OpenAPI servers | Agents, MCP, code interpreter | @agent builder, agent flows, MCP |
| Install effort | One container | Six-service Docker stack | One Docker container or a one-click desktop app |
| Resource footprint | One container, SQLite or PostgreSQL | MongoDB, Meilisearch, PostgreSQL with pgvector | 2 GB RAM, 2 cores, 5 GB disk before any model |
| License | Open WebUI License (keep the branding) | MIT | MIT |
What is Open WebUI?
Open WebUI is a self-hosted, provider-agnostic chat interface that works with Ollama and any OpenAI-compatible API. It is a popular front end for self-hosted AI built around local models, and you can switch models in the middle of a conversation.
Its strengths are retrieval and access control. The RAG pipeline combines BM25 keyword search with vector search and cross-encoder reranking, and ChromaDB and PGVector are the officially maintained vector stores. User management covers roles, groups and per-model access, with OIDC, LDAP and SCIM 2.0 for identity.
Most of the code sits under the Open WebUI License, which requires you to keep the Open WebUI branding. For the full install walkthrough, see our guide to self-hosting Open WebUI with Ollama.
What is LibreChat?
LibreChat is a web application for self-hosted AI that puts many providers behind one chat interface. Custom endpoints connect any OpenAI-compatible API, including Ollama and Groq, and presets save and reload your conversation settings so you stop retyping parameters.
The team features come from the surrounding stack. LibreChat stores data in MongoDB and uses Meilisearch for conversation search, while an optional RAG API runs on PostgreSQL with pgvector. Agents, MCP servers and a code interpreter sit on top. The tradeoff is weight: the default docker-compose.yml defines six services.
What is AnythingLLM?
AnythingLLM is an MIT-licensed application from Mintplex Labs for self-hosted AI that organizes everything into workspaces, where each workspace holds its own documents and conversations. It comes in two editions.
The Desktop edition installs in one click on macOS, Windows or Linux. It is single-user with no browser interface, and the documentation warns against exposing it to the public internet.
The Docker edition is the one you host on a server. It adds a browser interface, multi-user roles, embeddable chat widgets and white-labeling. LanceDB is the default vector database, and typing @agent in a chat opens the agent builder.
LibreChat vs Open WebUI features: models, RAG, users and agents
In an Open WebUI vs LibreChat feature comparison, the two overlap on the basics and diverge on depth. Open WebUI documents deeper retrieval options, while LibreChat centers on provider endpoints, presets and agents.
Connecting Ollama, vLLM and OpenAI-compatible APIs
Open WebUI connects to Ollama directly and to any OpenAI-compatible API, which covers vLLM servers. A practical example: with Ollama on another server, you set OLLAMA_BASE_URL on the container. LibreChat reaches the same backends through custom endpoints defined in its configuration files. AnythingLLM selects providers per workspace.
Document upload and RAG
Open WebUI offers the most retrieval options: hybrid search, several extraction engines and a choice of vector stores. LibreChat routes uploads through its RAG API and pgvector. AnythingLLM treats documents as the core model, with configurable chunking and embedding model selection.
User management and SSO
LibreChat and Open WebUI both document OIDC and LDAP. Open WebUI adds SCIM 2.0 provisioning and optional MFA, and LibreChat adds SAML, social logins and passkeys. AnythingLLM supports multiple users only in the Docker edition. If SSO is a hard requirement, test your identity provider against each project before you commit.
Agents and tools
LibreChat agents bundle instructions, files and tools into reusable assistants. Open WebUI exposes Python tools and OpenAPI tool servers. AnythingLLM ships built-in skills and agent flows. All three support MCP.
Docker setup and resource requirements
Open WebUI needs one container, and AnythingLLM needs one container with a 2 GB RAM floor. LibreChat needs six services. These figures exclude the model, which adds its own memory.
| Stack | Containers | Databases | Stated minimum (without models) | Contabo fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open WebUI | One (main image, port 3000 to 8080) | SQLite or PostgreSQL | None stated in the README | Entry-level Core VPS with a remote API backend |
| LibreChat | Six (api, admin-panel, mongodb, meilisearch, vectordb, rag_api) | MongoDB, PostgreSQL with pgvector | None stated on the quick start page | Entry-level Core VPS, higher for increased headroom |
| AnythingLLM | One (Docker edition) | LanceDB by default | 2 GB RAM, 2 cores with AVX2, 5 GB disk | Entry-level Core VPS with a remote API backend |
The LibreChat Docker setup takes docker compose up after you copy .env.example to .env, and the interface answers on port 3080. The default compose file runs MongoDB without authentication on the internal Docker network, so never publish its port. For Open WebUI, the cuda image tag adds GPU acceleration and the ollama tag bundles Ollama into the same container.
The AnythingLLM Docker edition has one hard requirement: LanceDB needs a CPU with AVX2, or the container exits on start. Run grep -c avx2 /proc/cpuinfo before you deploy. A result of 0 means you must switch the vector database in .env. If Docker is not on your server yet, follow our guide to installing Docker on Ubuntu first.
Open WebUI alternatives: when to pick something else
LibreChat and AnythingLLM are the strongest Open WebUI alternatives for most self-hosters, and a few smaller projects fit narrower jobs. Each is a self-hosted ChatGPT alternative.
- LibreChat: pick it when many providers and shared teams matter more than Ollama convenience.
- AnythingLLM: pick it when documents are the point or you want a desktop app.
- Libre WebUI: an Apache 2.0, local-first AI workspace. It is a different project from LibreChat despite the similar name.
- LobeChat: an open-source AI chat framework with multi-provider support and a knowledge base, for users who want a plugin-style ecosystem.
Which should you choose: LibreChat, Open WebUI or AnythingLLM?
Choose Open WebUI for Ollama-first setups and LibreChat for multi-provider teams. Choose AnythingLLM when documents drive the use case. LibreChat vs Open WebUI usually comes down to team size and provider mix, and AnythingLLM vs Open WebUI comes down to documents. Match your situation to a scenario:
- Solo user with Ollama: Open WebUI, because one container and one
OLLAMA_BASE_URLvariable are all it takes. - Team with many providers: LibreChat, for presets, agents and provider endpoints in one place. It wins the Open WebUI vs LibreChat call here.
- Document Q&A: AnythingLLM, for workspaces that keep each project’s files separate.
- Minimal resources: Open WebUI or AnythingLLM Docker, both single containers.
- SSO requirements: Open WebUI if you need SCIM 2.0 provisioning, LibreChat if you need SAML.
Open WebUI verdict
The best local-first interface, with SCIM 2.0 provisioning and the deepest retrieval options. Best for solo users and anyone running Ollama. Not ideal if you need to remove the branding, which the license forbids.
LibreChat verdict
The best choice for a multi-provider team that wants presets and agents. Best for shared deployments with several model vendors. Not ideal for a small VPS with no spare memory, since it runs six services.
AnythingLLM verdict
The best document-first option, and the only one of the three with a one-click desktop edition. Best for document Q&A and single-user desktop use. Not ideal for teams that need SSO, which you should test before committing.
Why self-host your AI chat UI on Contabo
A Core VPS runs any of the three interfaces for self-hosted AI when the models sit behind a remote API, and a GPU VPS is the right choice when you run models on the same host. Core VPS focuses on value, while Performance VPS is built to be AI-ready and adds strong NVMe storage, a good fit when a vector database and uploaded documents share the disk. Core VPS 6 has 6 vCPUs, 12 GB of RAM and 100 GB of NVMe storage, which leaves room for the full LibreChat stack.
Core VPS 4 has 4 vCPUs, 8 GB of RAM and 100 GB of NVMe storage, enough for Open WebUI or AnythingLLM as a front end. Core VPS 8 has 8 vCPUs and 24 GB of RAM, which fits small quantized models on CPU if you accept slow responses. For interactive speed, use a GPU VPS, a virtual server with a dedicated NVIDIA GPU.
The software is free, so your only cost is a flat monthly server price. Check the Contabo product pages for current USD and EUR rates.
FAQ: LibreChat, Open WebUI and AnythingLLM
Is LibreChat or Open WebUI better for a team?
Both work for teams, and the LibreChat vs Open WebUI answer depends on your identity needs. Open WebUI adds SCIM 2.0 provisioning and groups. LibreChat adds SAML, social logins and presets, and it suits teams that want agents and many provider endpoints in one place. The cost is a six-service Docker stack with MongoDB. Decide on identity requirements first.
Can AnythingLLM replace Open WebUI?
Yes, for document-centered use. In the AnythingLLM vs Open WebUI choice, AnythingLLM supports Ollama, OpenAI, Anthropic and other providers, agents with MCP, and workspaces that each hold their own documents. Its Docker edition adds multi-user roles. Open WebUI lists SCIM 2.0 and LDAP support, so confirm that AnythingLLM works with your identity provider before you move a whole team over.
Which works best with Ollama: Open WebUI or LibreChat?
Open WebUI is the more direct fit for Ollama. It is built around Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs, and one environment variable, OLLAMA_BASE_URL, points it at an Ollama server. Its ollama image tag even bundles Ollama into the same container. In the Open WebUI vs LibreChat comparison, LibreChat also works with Ollama, but you configure it as a custom endpoint.
Do I need a GPU to self-host an AI chat UI?
No. The chat interface for self-hosted AI runs on a CPU with modest memory: AnythingLLM lists 2 GB of RAM and 5 GB of storage, excluding models. A GPU matters only when you run the models on the same server. If the interface calls a remote API, a small VPS is enough. For local models at interactive speed, use a GPU VPS.
Which is the best Open WebUI alternative?
LibreChat is the best of the Open WebUI alternatives when you need many providers and team features, and AnythingLLM is the best when documents are your main use case. Libre WebUI is a separate Apache 2.0 project that is easy to confuse with LibreChat. Choose by the job you need done: provider breadth, document chat, or a local-first workspace.
