5 Open Source alternatives to OpenAI API in 2026
We compare 5 self-hostable tools you can deploy on your own server in minutes, with license, tech stack and a ready-to-copy docker-compose.
Quick comparison
Sorted by featured first, then GitHub stars as a tiebreaker — the same rule we use across the whole site.
| Tool | License | Minimum RAM | Docker | GitHub |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ollama Lightest optionMost popular on GitHub1-Click Deploy | MIT | ~256MB | ✅ | ★ ~99,000 |
| Dify | Apache-2.0 | ~2GB | ✅ | ★ ~54,000 |
| Text Generation WebUI Lightest option100% FOSS | AGPL-3.0 | ~256MB | ✅ | ★ ~42,000 |
| vLLM Lightest option100% FOSS | Apache-2.0 | ~256MB | ✅ | ★ ~29,000 |
| LocalAI Lightest option100% FOSS1-Click Deploy | MIT | ~256MB | ✅ | ★ ~26,000 |
Detailed profile of each alternative
Alternative to OpenAI API
Run open source LLMs locally, an alternative to the OpenAI API.
Alternative to OpenAI API
OpenAI-compatible API running local models, no per-token cost.
Alternative to OpenAI API
High-performance LLM inference engine, an alternative to the OpenAI API in production.
Alternative to OpenAI API
Platform for building AI apps with a visual editor and observability.
Alternative to OpenAI API
Advanced interface for local text models, an alternative to the OpenAI API.
How much does OpenAI API cost, and how much can you save?
OpenAI API charges a recurring monthly fee. Self-hosting the alternative, you only pay for the server — usually a few dollars a month.
Calculate your exact savings in the SaaS Audit →Already know which one you want?
Add Ollama to the Stack Builder and generate a ready-to-deploy docker-compose.yml, alone or alongside the rest of your stack.
Build my stackFrequently asked questions
Do I need Docker to self-host a OpenAI API alternative?
Yes, for all 5: each one has a ready-to-copy docker-compose.yml. You just need Docker installed on your server.
How much RAM do I need at minimum?
The lightest option on this list is Ollama, which runs on as little as 256MB of RAM — enough for a cheap VPS.
Are they all 100% free, or are there paid features like on OpenAI API?
3 out of 5 are 100% FOSS. The rest are Open-Core: the core is free and self-hostable, but some advanced feature may stay paid — we call it out on each tool's page.