OpenWork

Open-source desktop AI agent app for working on your own files, built on OpenCode.

Open sourceSelf-hostableAI chatbots and assistants

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About OpenWork

OpenWork is a desktop app from Different AI that gives non-developers an AI agent workspace similar to Claude Cowork or Codex: you chat with a model about your own files and connected tools, let it carry out multi-step tasks, save reusable skills and run scheduled automations. It is built on the OpenCode agent, so it works with models from 50+ providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and local models, using your own API keys. In desktop mode files stay on your machine and prompts go straight to the provider you choose. The app itself is free and open source on macOS, Windows and Linux, and needs no account. Teams can share skills, MCP servers and plugins as one-click bundles, and a paid OpenWork Cloud adds a web app, SSO, admin controls, an MCP gateway and private or self-hosted instances for larger organisations. Some features shown on its comparison page, such as phone dispatch, are still marked as coming soon.

Best for: Teams that want a Claude Cowork-style agent but with any model and their files kept local.

What works

Free, open-source desktop app with no account required
Works with 50+ model providers, including local models
Files stay on your machine in desktop mode
Skills and MCP setups can be shared with a team in one click

Why people leave

You supply and pay for your own model API keys
Some features, such as phone dispatch, are still coming soon
Admin controls and SSO need the paid cloud plan

Top OpenWork alternatives

See all 6

1
Claude
Claude's own desktop app includes Cowork, the agent workspace OpenWork is modelled on, with Anthropic's models only.
83.8
2
OpenAI Codex
OpenAI's agent for multi-step tasks, a closed option if you're already on ChatGPT plans.
69.4
3
AnythingLLM
Another open-source desktop app for chatting with your documents using any model, including local ones.
59.4
4
Jan
Open-source desktop assistant focused on running local models offline.
57.5
5
Cherry Studio
Free desktop client that connects many model providers, with assistants and knowledge bases.
55.9

Why people left OpenWork

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OpenWork: common questions

Is OpenWork free?

Yes. OpenWork is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.

Is OpenWork open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at different-ai/openwork. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does OpenWork run on?

OpenWork is available for macOS, Windows, Linux and Web.

What are the best alternatives to OpenWork?

The highest-ranked OpenWork alternatives right now are Claude, OpenAI Codex and AnythingLLM. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 OpenWork alternatives

OpenWork facts

5 of 5 verified

Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux; Checked Oct 30, 2026openworklabs.com(opens source in a new tab); “OpenWork is a free, open-source desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux that lets you do work with AI agents on your own files.”
Built on: OpenCode; Checked Oct 30, 2026openworklabs.com(opens source in a new tab); “It is built on OpenCode and is an open-source alternative to Claude Cowork and Codex.”
Free plan: Up to 5 users on Cloud; Checked Oct 30, 2026openworklabs.com(opens source in a new tab); “On OpenWork Cloud, the Free plan covers up to 5 users.”
Starting price: $10 per user/month (Team); Checked Oct 30, 2026openworklabs.com(opens source in a new tab); “The Team plan is $10 per user per month and adds SSO, API access, and the Extension Marketplace.”
Model providers: 50+; Checked Oct 30, 2026openworklabs.com(opens source in a new tab); “OpenWork is open source, works with 50+ LLMs from any provider”