# Jan

- Category: Models & resources
- Official site: https://jan.ai/
- HTML: https://www.88z.ai/en/tools/jan
- Markdown: https://www.88z.ai/en/tools/jan.md

Jan is an open-source desktop application built by Menlo Research, designed as a local alternative to ChatGPT.

## What is Jan?

Jan is an open-source desktop application built by Menlo Research, designed as a local alternative to ChatGPT.It empowers users to run open-source AI models directly on their machines for enhanced privacy and offline access, while also offering seamless connectivity to various cloud-based model services.

The platform supports a broad ecosystem of models, allowing users to choose from open-source options like Llama, Mistral, Qwen, and DeepSeek for local inference, or connect to online services such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, and Google's Gemini.Built in public, Jan features an active community and continuous development.

## Key features

- **Local Model Exec**：Run open-source models directly on your personal device without relying on internet connectivity, ensuring data sovereignty and privacy.
- **Cloud Model Inte**：Seamlessly connect to leading cloud-based large language models, including ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), and Gemini (Google).
- **Broad Model Supp**：Compatible with a wide range of renowned models such as Llama (Meta), Mistral, Qwen (Alibaba), DeepSeek, Gemma, and Kimi (Moonshot AI).
- **Contextual Memor**：Features memory capabilities (coming soon) that remember user preferences, professional background, and conversation context to avoid repetition.
- **Open Source & Tr**：Fully open-source codebase with significant community engagement on GitHub, adhering to a 'built in public' philosophy.
- **Native Desktop E**：Offers a native desktop client experience supporting systems like macOS, with a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to use.

## How to use it

1. Visit the official Jan website or the GitHub releases page to download the latest installer for your operating system.
2. Install and launch the Jan desktop application, then complete the initial setup wizard.
3. Select your desired model from the model hub: choose either an open-source model to download locally or configure a cloud API connection.
4. Start a new chat session, and Jan will load the corresponding model for inference based on your selection.
5. If using cloud models, enter your respective API Keys in the settings to establish the connection.
6. Explore community resources or documentation to learn how to optimize the performance of locally running models.

## Where it fits

- **Privacy-Sensitiv**：Handle confidential documents or private data by running models locally, ensuring information is not uploaded to third-party servers.
- **Offline Developm**：Use powerful open-source AI models to assist with coding or writing even in environments without stable internet connectivity.
- **Multi-Model Benc**：Researchers and developers can easily switch between models from different vendors within the same interface to compare output quality.
- **Personalized Ass**：Leverage memory features and preference settings to create a dedicated intelligent assistant that understands your work habits and style.

## Pricing and free quota

Pricing and any free quota follow the official site.

## Who it is for

- Individual users prioritizing data privacy
- Developers requiring offline work capabilities
- Researchers looking to unify multiple AI models
- Tech enthusiasts seeking an open-source alternative to ChatGPT

## FAQ

### Is Jan completely free?

The Jan desktop application is free and open-source.However, if you choose to use cloud models (such as services from OpenAI or Anthropic), you will need to pay the respective API usage fees to those providers.

### Which operating systems does Jan support?

Jan offers a desktop client.The official excerpts explicitly mention support for Mac.For other platforms like Windows and Linux, please refer to the official download page for the most accurate information.

### Can I use my own API Keys in Jan?

Yes, Jan allows you to connect to cloud models.You will need to provide the API Keys from the respective service providers (such as OpenAI, Google, etc.) to use these online services.

### How does Jan's memory feature work?

According to the official description, the memory feature (Coming Soon) will allow Jan to remember user context and preferences, such as professional background and answer style preferences, providing a more personalized experience.

## Tags

Open Source AI · Local LLM · ChatGPT Alternative · Privacy Focused · Desktop Client

Features, pricing and availability follow the official site. Except for 88z.ai’s own API pages, this is a third-party product; 88z.ai only provides a directory introduction.