chat-ui social preview
chat-ui10,992Apache 2.0

chat-ui

The open source codebase powering HuggingChat

Updated Oct 22, 2026
Website GitHub Docs
Platforms
docker, web
Pricing
free-open-source
Status
active
License
Apache 2.0

What it does

Core capabilities at a glance

  • Chatgpt
  • Huggingface
  • Svelte
  • Svelte KIT
  • Sveltekit
  • Tailwindcss

Deep dive

The full breakdown - performance, comparisons, and setup

chat-ui

chat-ui is a chat UI - The open source codebase powering HuggingChat.

Overview

A chat interface for LLMs. It is a SvelteKit app and it powers the HuggingChat app on hf.co/chat.

  1. Quickstart 1. Database Options 2. Launch 3. Optional Docker Image 4. Extra parameters 5. ML Intern 6. Building

Chat UI speaks to OpenAI-compatible APIs only. The fastest way to get running is with the Hugging Face Inference Providers router plus your personal Hugging Face access token.

'OPENAI_API_KEY' can come from any OpenAI-compatible endpoint you plan to call. Pick the combo that matches your setup and drop the values into '.env.local':

Check the root '.env' template for the full list of optional variables you can override.

You now have Chat UI running locally. Open the browser and start chatting.

Chat history, users, settings, files, and stats all live in MongoDB. You can point Chat UI at any MongoDB 6/7 deployment.

  1. Create a free cluster at mongodb.com. 2. Add your IP (or '0.0.0.0/0' for development) to the network access list. 3. Create a database user and copy the connection string. 4. Paste that string into 'MONGODB_URL' in '.env.local'. Keep the default 'MONGODB_DB_NAME=chat-ui' or change it per environment.

Atlas keeps MongoDB off your laptop, which is ideal for teams or cloud deployments.

Then set 'MONGODB_URL=mongodb://localhost:27017' in '.env.local'.

chat-ui is open-source, written primarily in TypeScript, with 10,992 GitHub stars under the Apache 2.0 license. The latest release is v0.10.0 (2026-05-11).

Key capabilities

From the project's documentation:

  • PUBLIC_APP_NAME The name used as a title throughout the app.
  • Pick a route locally based on the request signals (image attached, MCP server enabled, or default).
  • Emit RouterMetadata immediately (route and actual model used) so the UI can display it.
  • Set LLM_ROUTER_ENABLE_TOOLS=true and choose a tools‑capable target with LLM_ROUTER_TOOLS_MODEL=.

How it fits a local-AI stack

chat-ui runs on your own hardware, so pair it with a model and a GPU sized to your needs. Use the VRAM calculator to pick a model that fits your card, and see what you can run for hardware guidance. Related chat UIs in the directory:

Sources

Stats from GitHub, 2026-10-22.

Frequently asked

Quick answers to common questions

What is chat-ui?

chat-ui is a chat-ui tool for local AI workloads. The open source codebase powering HuggingChat

Is chat-ui free and open source?

Yes, chat-ui has 10,992 GitHub stars and is licensed under Apache 2.0. You can self-host it for free on docker, web.

What platforms does chat-ui support?

chat-ui runs on docker, web.

What hardware do I need for chat-ui?

The hardware requirements depend on which models you run. Check our hardware directory for compatible GPUs and systems. chat-ui has 10,992 GitHub stars and an active community.

Does chat-ui support GPU acceleration?

chat-ui's GPU support depends on your specific setup. Check the documentation for details. For the best performance, pair it with an NVIDIA RTX 4090 or 5090.

What are the best alternatives to chat-ui?

Popular alternatives include other chat-ui tools in our directory. Browse our full collection at /tool for comparisons, community reviews, and benchmark data to find the right fit for your workflow.

How much does chat-ui cost?

chat-ui is free-open-source. It is completely free and open source to self-host.

Pairs well with

Complementary tools, models, and hardware