Self-hosted chat interface · comparison
00 vs Open WebUI
Open WebUI is the dominant self-hosted chat interface — a ChatGPT-style portal over Ollama and any API, for one user or a whole team. 00 shares the local-first DNA but builds agents, not a chat page: personas with channels, meetings, schedules, and servers they live on.
| 00 | Open WebUI | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A native macOS app — a crew of agents | A web UI you host in Docker |
| Local models | Yes — Ollama, LM Studio, Jan, auto-detected | Yes — first-class Ollama support |
| Beyond the chat window | 19 messaging channels, phone calls, meetings, schedules | It's a chat interface — RAG, web search, image gen inside it |
| Meeting transcription | Yes — live, on-device | No |
| Agents on your servers | Yes — headless engines reporting to your Mac, one approval queue | The UI runs on a server; it doesn't act on its own |
| Multi-user access | Personal-first; paired devices with per-device agent grants | Strong — RBAC, SSO, LDAP for teams |
| Setup | Download the app | Docker on a server you manage |
| License / price | Free app | Free self-hosted; custom license with branding clause; enterprise licensing sold separately |
Why choose 00
- Agents that act, not a page you visit: they answer on WhatsApp and email, run on schedules, transcribe meetings, and wait for your approval before sending.
- The same local-model story — Ollama detected automatically — without hosting a web app.
- A fleet, not one server UI: headless agents on your servers, all managed from your Mac's notch.
- Native macOS experience: the notch command center, live activity, one-keypress approvals.
When Open WebUI may fit better
- You want a ChatGPT-style portal for a team on your own infrastructure — many users behind one login with RBAC and SSO, shared models, RAG and plugins. That's exactly what Open WebUI is for.
Try 00 — it's free.
Build an agent you own in under a minute, on your Mac.
Frequently asked
Is 00 like Open WebUI?
They share the self-hosted, local-model philosophy, but differ in shape: Open WebUI is a chat interface you host; 00 is a crew of agents that live on your channels, record your meetings, and run on your servers.
Can both use Ollama?
Yes — both treat local models as first-class. 00 auto-detects a running Ollama, LM Studio, or Jan and can even launch it in the background when an agent needs it.
Which is better for a team?
For shared chat access with roles and SSO, Open WebUI. 00 is personal-first — one person's crew — though paired devices and peer machines can share agents with explicit per-device grants.
Do I need Docker for 00?
No — it's a native macOS app with a bundled engine. Docker isn't involved even for servers: the headless engine installs over SSH in one click.
More comparisons
This comparison reflects 00's perspective and our understanding of publicly available information; other products change often — check their own sites for the latest. 00 is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Open WebUI or its makers. All names and trademarks belong to their respective owners.