head to head · open source
Open WebUI vs Ptero
Open WebUI has 152,394 GitHub stars, 22,296 forks, 294 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Ptero has 1,256 stars, 14 forks, 0 open issues and last shipped 3 days ago. Open WebUI leads on adoption by 12,033% (152,394 vs 1,256 stars). Open WebUI is written in Python under a custom or non-standard licence; Ptero is written in PHP under Apache-2.0. Open WebUI has attracted 15% as many forks as stars, Ptero 1%. Open WebUI 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
| Open WebUI | Ptero | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 152K | ★ 1.3K |
| License | Custom / other | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | Python | PHP |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-15 |
| Forks | ⑂ 22K | ⑂ 14 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Open WebUI if
- You weight community size — 152K stars and counting
- You want the Custom / other license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- 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 Open WebUI
Open WebUI is a self hosted, open source AI interface that unifies access to local and cloud based large language models. It runs entirely in a web browser and supports Ollama for local model hosting alongside any OpenAI compatible API, including services like LMStudio, GroqCloud, Mistral, and OpenRouter. Built in Python, it functions as a drop in replacement for proprietary AI platforms, giving users full control over their model infrastructure and data.
read the full Open WebUI overview →
About Ptero
Ptero is a free, open source AI chat platform that provides access to multiple large language models through a single, clean interface. It is designed for developers, students, and creators who value privacy and simplicity, and it requires no signup to use. The project lives in the PHP and JavaScript ecosystem: the frontend is built with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, while the backend uses PHP and a REST API, primarily for its WordPress integration. It sits in the AI and Machine Learning category, specifically under AI Interaction and Interfaces.
read the full Ptero overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Open WebUI or Ptero more popular?
Open WebUI has 152,394 GitHub stars and Ptero has 1,256. Open WebUI has the larger community by that measure.
Are Open WebUI and Ptero free?
Both are open source. Open WebUI 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 Open WebUI and Ptero?
Open WebUI is written in Python 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, Open WebUI or Ptero?
Choose Open WebUI if you want the larger community (152,394 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.