head to head · open source
LobeChat vs Ptero
LobeChat has 83,716 GitHub stars, 16,033 forks, 922 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Ptero has 1,519 stars, 18 forks, 0 open issues and last shipped 6 days ago. LobeChat leads on adoption by 5,411% (83,716 vs 1,519 stars). LobeChat is written in TypeScript under a custom or non-standard licence; Ptero is written in PHP under Apache-2.0. LobeChat has attracted 19% as many forks as stars, Ptero 1%. LobeChat was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (ai), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
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
| LobeChat | Ptero | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 84K | ★ 1.5K |
| License | Custom / other | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-11-02 | 2026-10-28 |
| Forks | ⑂ 16K | ⑂ 18 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick LobeChat if
- You weight community size — 84K stars and counting
- You want the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Ptero if
- You want the Ptero feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches PHP
- You evaluated both and Ptero fits your workflow better
About LobeChat
[![][image banner]][vercel link] LobeHub LobeHub organizes your agents into 7×24 operation. It hires, schedules, reports on your entire AI team. You stay in charge — without staying online. English · 简体中文 · [Official Site][official site] · [Changelog][changelog] · [Documents][docs] · [Blog][blog] · [Feedback][github issues link] [![][github release shield]][github release link] [![][docker release shield]][docker release link] [![][vercel shield]][vercel link] [![][discord shield]][discord link] [![][codecov shield]][codecov link] [![][github action test shield]][github action test link] [![][github action…
read the full LobeChat overview →
About Ptero
🚀 Ptero – Free, Multi Model AI Chat Platform Ptero is a free, open source AI chat platform that gives you instant access to multiple powerful language models through a single, clean interface. No signup is required, and it is designed for developers, students, and creators who value privacy and simplicity. Try it live: 💖 Sponsors We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors for their support in keeping Ptero free and accessible for everyone. ✨ Key Features Access Multiple AI Models : Choose from a wide range of models, including DeepSeek V4 , Llama 3.3 , Qwen , MiniMax , Mistral , and more. One Click Model…
read the full Ptero overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is LobeChat or Ptero more popular?
LobeChat has 83,716 GitHub stars and Ptero has 1,519. LobeChat has the larger community by that measure.
Are LobeChat and Ptero free?
Both are open source. LobeChat has no licence declared in this registry, and Ptero is licensed under Apache-2.0. Both are free to self-host.
What is the difference between LobeChat and Ptero?
LobeChat is written in TypeScript and Ptero in PHP. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, LobeChat or Ptero?
Choose LobeChat if you want the larger community (83,716 stars) or its Custom / other licence terms. Choose Ptero if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.