What it does
Core capabilities at a glance
- AI Agent
- AI Assistant
- Chatgpt Alternative
- Claude Alternative
- Desktop APP
- Electron
- Gemma
- GPT OSS
Deep dive
The full breakdown - performance, comparisons, and setup
hobLink to this section
hob is a chat UI - An easier way to use AI on your own computer. A free, open-source alternative to Claude and ChatGPT that runs open-weight models like Gemma and gpt-oss locally on Mac, Windows and Linux. Private, and works offline.
OverviewLink to this section
An easier way to use AI on your own computer. A free, open-source alternative to Claude and ChatGPT.
Visit hob.chat → · Download for Mac · Windows · Linux
Fill out PDFs, work through documents, and much more. Free, private, and works offline. Hob picks the best frontier open-weight model that fits your computer and sets everything up for you.
hob is open-source, written primarily in TypeScript, with 411 GitHub stars under the MIT license. The latest release is v0.2.6 (2026-10-30).
How it fits a local-AI stackLink to this section
hob 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:
SourcesLink to this section
- Source code & docs: FrigadeHQ/hob
- Official website: https://hob.chat
Stats from GitHub, 2026-11-01.
Frequently asked
Quick answers to common questions
What is hob?
hob is a chat-ui tool for local AI workloads. An easier way to use AI on your own computer. A free, open-source alternative to Claude and ChatGPT that runs open-weight models like Gemma and gpt-oss locally…
Is hob free and open source?
Yes, hob has 411 GitHub stars and is licensed under MIT. You can self-host it for free on macos, linux, windows.
What platforms does hob support?
hob runs on macos, linux, windows.
What hardware do I need for hob?
The hardware requirements depend on which models you run. Check our hardware directory for compatible GPUs and systems. hob has 411 GitHub stars and an active community.
Does hob support GPU acceleration?
hob supports GPU acceleration via CUDA, Metal, or Vulkan depending on your platform. For the best performance, pair it with an NVIDIA RTX 4090 or 5090.
What are the best alternatives to hob?
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 hob cost?
hob is free-open-source. It is completely free and open source to self-host.
Pairs well with
Complementary tools, models, and hardware