Which ChatGPT alternative fits what you need?
Choose by task and data route. The directory compares hosted assistants, including Duck.ai, Proton Lumo, Brave Leo, Claude, and Mistral Vibe (formerly Le Chat), plus open models you can run yourself. If privacy is your main requirement, compare the exact product and hosting route before moving sensitive work. See what local setup changes about where prompts are processed.
Which alternatives can I try?
These options differ in route and disclosure. The free plan limits below come from current vendor pages; prices and allowances can change.
| Tool | Good for | Free or cost basis | Tradeoff | Policy profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Leo | Browser pages and PDFs, with hosted or user-selected local models | Free tier; Leo Premium is US$14.99/month for higher rate limits ↗. | Hosted Anthropic routes may retain chats up to 30 days; local routes follow the selected endpoint. | Brave Leo |
| Claude | Writing, coding, and research with web search | Free with limited usage; Pro is US$20/month billed monthly ↗. | Hosted service; usage varies with message length, model, files, and tools. | Claude |
| Mistral Vibe (formerly Le Chat) | Simple chat, web search, and basic coding | Free with limited messages, searches, and coding sessions; see current Mistral plan details ↗. | Consumer chats may be used for training unless you opt out; temporary chat is separate. | Mistral Vibe (formerly Le Chat) |
| OLMo 3 7B Instruct, Apertus 1.5 8B, Pleias-Pico | Run an open model locally and inspect parts of its training record | No hosted-chat subscription for local files; device, electricity, and setup are yours. | Needs a compatible runtime and enough memory; capabilities and model licenses vary. | OLMo 3 7B Instruct, Apertus 1.5 8B, Pleias-Pico |
Duck.ai and Proton Lumo have separate profiles for their hosted privacy routes: Duck.ai privacy details ↗ and Lumo privacy details ↗. Compare their retention and training protections alongside the underlying model and company findings.
Open the chatbot alternatives with a documented local-model route to find a setup you can run on your device. Requirements apply before the overall ranking. See compare models for model choices.
How do I choose and switch?
Pick one ordinary task and try it with non-sensitive material. Check that the alternative supports your language, files, search, and any custom instructions you use. For local models, confirm the app is running a downloaded model rather than routing to a cloud endpoint. Export only the old chats you need, remove personal details before moving them, and check the current training and retention setting on every device.
For a task that needs no AI, use the source document, a trusted reference, or a person with the right expertise. Read private AI chat controls and training-data evidence before deciding what to share.