text-generation-webui

What it is for

text-generation-webui (oobabooga) is a local Gradio chat UI for open models: the official screenshot (see the cover: Chat, Parameters, Character, Model, Session, composer “Send a message”, Enable thinking, web_search / fetch_webpage tools, MCP servers) is the desktop. Use it when the job is talk to a GGUF/Transformers model you already downloaded, not when you want a hosted assistant.

The software is AGPL-3.0. Self-host is $0. The README does not list a paid cloud SKU.

What makes it unique: the cover is oobabooga’s own Chat still — thinking trace, fetch_webpage tools, MCP — not a logo.

Key features

• Chat composer — send box, paperclip, mode switch instruct/chat-instruct (cover).
• Tool toggles — fetch_webpage, get_datetime, roll_dice, web_search, MCP servers (cover).
• Sidebar — Chat / Parameters / Character / Model / Session plus chat history.
• Local models — you load weights; the UI does not sell them.
• AGPL-3.0 — network use still requires sharing modifications.

Who it's for

Best fit: people who already run a 16 GB+ GPU (or CPU) and will load a model file.

Poor fit: people who want a one-command desktop app (Jan) or a ChatGPT-style shell in front of Ollama (Open WebUI).

Pricing

Verified 2026-10-21 (Asia/Shanghai) from github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui (AGPL-3.0).

• Self-host / desktop — $0. AGPL-3.0. You bring weights, VRAM, and (optionally) search keys.
• Hosted SKU — not on the README. Do not invent one.

Limitations / costs

• $0 is the UI, not the GPU. A 70B model still needs VRAM or offload.
• AGPL-3.0 is copyleft. Shipping a modified hosted UI has share-back duties.
• You install Python and a backend. The screenshot looks simple; setup is not.
• No published Cloud card.

Alternatives

• Open WebUI — ChatGPT-style shell for Ollama / OpenAI-compatible APIs.
• Ollama — local runner (CLI/app/API); MIT.
• Jan — desktop chat with a local model gallery.

Official tutorial

How to install on the official README covers the portable unzip, one-click installer, and Conda paths.

Website

https://github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui

Repository

https://github.com/oobabooga/text-generation-webui

Source

Catalog row curated for AI Tools Nav. Cover is oobabooga’s official Chat screenshot (thinking + fetch_webpage + MCP), not a logo. License AGPL-3.0. Written tutorial: How to install.

Last verified

2026-10-21 (Asia/Shanghai) editorial check. Software is AGPL-3.0 $0. No Cloud dollar on the README.