Pick AnythingLLM if
teams who want ChatGPT-style RAG on their own docs and will run Docker or pay for Cloud.
Read the AnythingLLM pageAnythingLLM vs Perplexica
Our take
Pick AnythingLLM if teams who want ChatGPT-style RAG on their own docs and will run Docker or pay for Cloud. Pick Perplexica if people who will run Docker and an LLM (local or BYOK) to keep search+answer off a hosted Pro plan. Skip AnythingLLM if people who only want a local model runner (Ollama) or a ChatGPT-shaped UI without the workspace RAG (Open WebUI). Skip Perplexica if someone who wants a signed-out hosted
Perplexica
Self-host AI search (now Vane). MIT
Best for
AnythingLLM Private RAG over your files
Perplexica Perplexity-shaped search on a box you run
Free plan
AnythingLLM $0 · mIT. You bring the model and the machine
Perplexica $0 · mIT. You pay the LLM (local GPU or an API key) and the search host
Lowest paid
AnythingLLM Cloud Basic $50/mo
Perplexica Not published by the vendor
Next step up
AnythingLLM Cloud Pro $99/mo
Perplexica
Runs where
AnythingLLM Local or hosted
Perplexica Local or hosted
Watch out
AnythingLLM Self-host is not “free AI.”
Perplexica You operate two systems
Last checked
AnythingLLM 2026-10-19 · anythingllm.com/pricing
Perplexica 2026-10-20 · github.com/ItzCrazyKns/Vane
Which one, then?
Pick Perplexica if
people who will run Docker and an LLM (local or BYOK) to keep search+answer off a hosted Pro plan.
Read the Perplexica page