head to head · open source
AnythingLLM vs Zola
AnythingLLM has 67,862 GitHub stars, 7,658 forks, 311 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. Zola has 1,538 stars, 297 forks, 28 open issues and last shipped 11 months ago. AnythingLLM leads on adoption by 4,312% (67,862 vs 1,538 stars). AnythingLLM is written in JavaScript under MIT; Zola is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0. AnythingLLM has attracted 11% as many forks as stars, Zola 19%. AnythingLLM was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| AnythingLLM | Zola | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 68K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-10-30 | 2025-12-11 |
| Forks | ⑂ 7.7K | ⑂ 297 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick AnythingLLM if
- You weight community size — 68K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches JavaScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Zola if
- You want the Zola feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and Zola fits your workflow better
About AnythingLLM
[!NOTE] We are also working on Open Computer which gives an entire computer environment for AI Agents to use. This will bring AnythingLLM's agent capabilities to a new level and a novel UX paradigm for AI Agent use. ⭐ Star the repo to stay updated! AnythingLLM: The all in one AI app you were looking for. Chat with your docs, use AI Agents, hyper configurable, multi user, & no frustrating setup required. Docs Hosted Instance English · 简体中文 · 日本語 👉 AnythingLLM for desktop (Mac, Windows, & Linux)! Download Now Chat with your docs. Automate complex workflows with AI Agents. Hyper configurable, multi user ready…
read the full AnythingLLM overview →
About Zola
Zola zola.chat Zola is the open source chat interface for all your models. Features Multi model support: OpenAI, Mistral, Claude, Gemini, Ollama (local models) Bring your own API key (BYOK) support via OpenRouter File uploads Clean, responsive UI with light/dark themes Built with Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui, and prompt kit Open source and self hostable Customizable: user system prompt, multiple layout options Local AI with Ollama: Run models locally with automatic model detection Full MCP support (wip) Quick Start Option 1: With OpenAI (Cloud) Option 2: With Ollama (Local) Zola will automatically detect your local…
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Frequently asked questions
Is AnythingLLM or Zola more popular?
AnythingLLM has 67,862 GitHub stars and Zola has 1,538. AnythingLLM has the larger community by that measure.
Are AnythingLLM and Zola free?
Both are open source. AnythingLLM is licensed under MIT and Zola under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between AnythingLLM and Zola?
AnythingLLM is written in JavaScript and Zola in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, AnythingLLM or Zola?
Choose AnythingLLM if you want the larger community (67,862 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose Zola if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.