Pick gpt4all if
people who want a downloadable local ChatGPT-style window and will wait for a multi-GB model.
Read the gpt4all pagegpt4all vs Jan
Our take
Pick gpt4all if people who want a downloadable local ChatGPT-style window and will wait for a multi-GB model. Pick Jan if people who want a polished local chat app and will download a multi-GB model. Skip gpt4all if people who only want a CLI runner (Ollama) or a Nomic cloud workspace (not this app). Skip Jan if people who only want a CLI runner (Ollama) or a multi-workspace RAG studio (AnythingLLM).
gpt4all
local desktop chat app from Nomic
Best for
gpt4all On-device chat on Windows/Mac/Linux
Jan Download a model and chat offline
Free plan
gpt4all $0 · mIT. You pay disk and CPU/GPU
Jan $0 · apache 2.0. You bring disk and (optionally) a GPU
Lowest paid
gpt4all Not published by the vendor
Jan Not published by the vendor
Runs where
gpt4all Hosted
Jan Hosted
Watch out
gpt4all The first run is a model download
Jan The first screen is a 4.7 GB download
Last checked
gpt4all 2026-10-20 · github.com/nomic-ai/gpt4all
Jan 2026-10-19 · jan.ai
Which one, then?
Pick Jan if
people who want a polished local chat app and will download a multi-GB model.
Read the Jan page