[opensourcedex]

chatbox is a free, open source ai interaction & interfaces project written in TypeScript and released under GPL-3.0. It has 42,229 GitHub stars, 4,300 forks and 1,290 open issues, and was last pushed 5 days ago. On this registry it ranks #15 of 156 tracked projects in AI Interaction & Interfaces, with 5 head-to-head comparisons available. It gained 320 stars over the last 30 tracked days.

What is chatbox?

What it is

Chatbox (Community Edition) is a cross-platform desktop client for large language models, written in TypeScript and released under the GPL-3.0 license. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and it connects to a range of providers including OpenAI (ChatGPT), Azure OpenAI, Claude, Google Gemini Pro, Ollama and ChatGLM-6B. The project lives in the AI interaction and interfaces ecosystem, where desktop chat front-ends sit between a user and one or more hosted or locally hosted model APIs. The repository carries 41,767 stars and 4,251 forks across four years of history.

The concrete problem it solves is fragmentation. Instead of juggling a separate browser tab, terminal command and API key for every model vendor, a user configures providers once inside a single application and chats from there. It also keeps data on the device through local data storage, so conversation history does not depend on a third-party account. The Community Edition is open-sourced under GPLv3, and code is regularly synced between this repository and the pro repository in both directions.

Key capabilities

  • Support for multiple LLM providers, including OpenAI (ChatGPT), Azure OpenAI, Claude, Google Gemini Pro, Ollama and ChatGLM-6B.
  • Access to local models through Ollama, such as llama2, Mistral, Mixtral, codellama, vicuna, yi and solar.
  • Image generation with Dall-E-3.
  • Local data storage, so conversation data remains on the device.
  • Streaming replies that render progressively as the model responds.
  • Markdown, LaTeX and code highlighting with syntax support for various programming languages.
  • Prompt library and message quoting for reuse and context.
  • Team collaboration with shared OpenAI API resources.
  • Multilingual interface covering English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Russian and Spanish.

Who uses it and how

  • Individual desktop users on Windows 10, macOS 11 (Big Sur) or Ubuntu 20.04 and later, installing a native package and configuring a provider in settings.
  • Developers who route prompts to local Ollama models rather than paid hosted APIs.
  • Teams that share OpenAI API resources through the team collaboration feature.
  • Mobile and web users who access the same client through native iOS and Android apps or a browser-based web version.
  • Users producing formatted output, such as LaTeX and highlighted code, inside chat threads.

Getting started

Download the installer for the platform from the releases page — Setup.exe for Windows, an Intel or Apple Silicon build for macOS, or an AppImage for Linux — then install, launch and configure an AI provider such as OpenAI or Claude in settings. An APK is published for Android, and a hosted web version is available at chatboxai.app.

When to use it — and when not to

Choose it when the goal is one interface over many providers with data kept locally and no server-side deployment of your own. A self-hoster does not operate a database, object storage or SMTP service for the desktop client, since it is a local application rather than a hosted service; the trade-off is that provider accounts, API keys and any shared team credentials remain the user's responsibility. The main weakness visible in the facts is maintenance load: the repository carries 1,290 open issues, and the Community Edition depends on code synced from a separate pro repository rather than developed independently.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

English | 简体中文 

Chatbox
(Community Edition)

Your Ultimate AI Copilot on the Desktop.
Chatbox is a desktop client for ChatGPT, Claude and other LLMs, available on Windows, Mac, Linux

macOS Windows Linux Downloads Privacy

Chatbox - Better UI & Desktop App for ChatGPT, Claude and other LLMs. | Product Hunt chatboxai%2Fchatbox | Trendshift

This is the repository for the Chatbox Community Edition, open-sourced under the GPLv3 license.

Chatbox is going open-source Again!

We regularly sync code from the pro repo to this repo, and vice versa.

Download

Desktop

Windows MacOS Linux

Setup.exe
Intel
Apple Silicon
AppImage

iOS/Android

.APK

For more information: chatboxai.app

Quick Start

For End Users

  1. Download the appropriate installer for your platform from the releases page
  2. Install and launch Chatbox
  3. Configure your AI provider (OpenAI, Claude, etc.) in settings
  4. Start chatting!

System Requirements

Platform Minimum Version Architecture
Windows Windows 10 x64
macOS macOS 11 (Big Sur) Intel/Apple Silicon
Linux Ubuntu 20.04+ / AppImage supported distros x64

Features

🤖 AI Model Support

  • Support for Multiple LLM Providers
    :gear: Seamlessly integrate with a variety of cutting-edge language models:

    • OpenAI (ChatGPT)
    • Azure OpenAI
    • Claude
    • Google Gemini Pro
    • Ollama (enable access to local models like llama2, Mistral, Mixtral, codellama, vicuna, yi, and solar)
    • ChatGLM-6B

  • Image Generation with Dall-E-3
    :art: Create the images of your imagination with Dall-E-3.

  • Enhanced Prompting
    :speech_balloon: Advanced prompting features to refine and focus your queries for better responses.

🖥️ User Experience

  • Local Data Storage
    :floppy_disk: Your data remains on your device, ensuring it never gets lost and maintains your privacy.

  • No-Deployment Installation Packages
    :package: Get started quickly with downloadable installation packages. No complex setup necessary!

  • Ergonomic UI & Dark Theme
    :new_moon: A user-friendly interface with a night mode option for reduced eye strain during extended use.

  • Keyboard Shortcuts
    :keyboard: Stay productive with shortcuts that speed up your workflow.

  • Streaming Reply
    :arrow_forward: Provide rapid responses to your interactions with immediate, progressive replies.

📄 Content & Formatting

  • Markdown, Latex & Code Highlighting
    :scroll: Generate messages with the full power of Markdown and Latex formatting, coupled with syntax highlighting for various programming languages, enhancing readability and presentation.

  • Prompt Library & Message Quoting
    :books: Save and organize prompts for reuse, and quote messages for context in discussions.

👥 Collaboration & Sharing

  • Team Collaboration
    :busts_in_silhouette: Collaborate with ease and share OpenAI API resources among your team. Learn More

🌐 Platform Availability

  • Cross-Platform Desktop
    :computer: Chatbox is ready for Windows, Mac, and Linux users.

  • Web Version
    :globe_with_meridians: Use the web application on any device with a browser, anywhere.

  • Mobile Apps
    :phone: Native iOS and Android applications for on-the-go access.

🌍 Localization

  • Multilingual Support
    :earth_americas: Catering to a global audience by offering support in multiple languages:
    • English
    • 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese)
    • 繁體中文 (Traditional Chinese)
    • 日本語 (Japanese)
    • 한국어 (Korean)
    • Français (French)
    • Deutsch (German)
    • Русский (Russian)
    • Español (Spanish)

✨ More Features

  • And More...
    :sparkles: Constantly enhancing the experience with new features!

FAQ

How to Contribute

We welcome contributions from the community! Here's how you can help make Chatbox better:

🐛 Reporting Issues

  • Use GitHub Issues to report bugs or request features
  • Before creating a new issue, please search existing issues to avoid duplicates
  • Provide detailed information including steps to reproduce, expected behavior, and screenshots if applicable

🔧 Pull Requests

  1. Fork the repository and create your branch from main
  2. Make your changes and ensure the code follows our coding standards
  3. Test your changes thoroughly
  4. Update documentation if needed
  5. Submit a pull request with a clear description of the changes

🌍 Translations

Help make Chatbox accessible to more people by contributing translations:

  • Translation files are located in the src/locales directory
  • Follow the existing translation format
  • Submit a PR with your translation improvements

📖 Documentation

  • Improve README, API documentation, or user guides
  • Fix typos or clarify unclear instructions
  • Add examples and tutorials

🌟 Other Ways to Contribute

  • Star the repository to show your support
  • Share Chatbox with others
  • Answer questions in GitHub Discussions
  • Provide feedback and suggestions

Thank you for contributing! 🙏

Development

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following installed:

  • Node.js (v20.x – v22.x) - Download here
  • pnpm (v10.x or later) - Install via corepack enable && corepack prepare pnpm@latest --activate
  • Git - Download here

Quick Setup

  1. Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/chatboxai/chatbox.git
cd chatbox

  2. Install dependencies

    pnpm install

  3. Start development server

    pnpm run dev

    The application will start in development mode with hot-reload enabled.

Build Commands

Command Description
pnpm run dev Start development server with hot-reload
pnpm run package Build and package for current platform
pnpm run package:all Build and package for all platforms
pnpm run build Build for production without packaging
pnpm run lint Run Biome to check code quality
pnpm run test Run Vitest test suite

Project Structure

chatbox/
├── src/
│   ├── main/               # Electron main process
│   ├── renderer/           # React renderer (UI)
│   ├── preload/            # Electron preload scripts
│   └── shared/             # Shared utilities
├── doc/                    # Documentation and assets
├── resources/              # App resources and icons
├── team-sharing/           # Team collaboration features
└── package.json            # Project configuration

Development Tips

  • Use pnpm run lint before committing to ensure code quality
  • Follow the existing code style and patterns
  • Test your changes on both light and dark themes
  • Ensure cross-platform compatibility when making UI changes

Troubleshooting

Issue: pnpm install fails

  • Solution: Ensure you're using pnpm (not npm or yarn) and Node.js version is within the required range. Run corepack enable if pnpm is not found.

Issue: Build fails on Windows

  • Solution: Run pnpm config set script-shell "C:\\Program Files\\git\\bin\\bash.exe" if using Git Bash

Issue: Changes not reflecting in development

  • Solution: Stop the dev server, delete node_modules/.vite, and restart

Star History

Star History Chart

Contact

Email

License

LICENSE

Frequently asked questions

Is chatbox free to use?

chatbox is open source under the GPL-3.0 licence. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does chatbox do?

Powerful AI Client

What is chatbox written in?

chatbox is primarily written in TypeScript. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/chatboxai/chatbox, and it has 42,229 GitHub stars.