Compare
Jean beside the AI apps you know
Where each one runs, who reads what you send, what it costs, and whether you can leave with your things. And if you’re choosing between ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini: in Jean you don’t have to.
- No Jean server
- Any AI, the one you pay for included
- Nothing to install
- Free and open source, MIT
Five kinds of AI app, side by side
By kind, not by brand: products change every month, kinds don’t. Each brand has its own page below.
| Jean | Chat apps from AI companiesChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot | Assistants that act for youClaude Cowork, OpenClaw, Manus | Local AI appsLM Studio, Ollama | Self-hosted chatOpen WebUI, LibreChat | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Jean In a browser tab, from jean.is or your own address Built | Chat apps from AI companies The company’s servers; apps for phone and computer | Assistants that act for you A program on your computer or a server; Cowork also in Anthropic’s cloud, Manus in its own1Claude CoworkOct 20, 20262Manus docs: welcomeNov 1, 2026 | Local AI apps Your computer, after an install | Self-hosted chat Your server, usually with Docker |
| Who reads what you send | Jean The AI you choose. With the AI on this computer, nobody Built | Chat apps from AI companies The company; some train their AI on it unless you opt out3ChatGPT pricing: content used to train, opt-out availableOct 20, 20264Claude privacy: used to train only if you allow itOct 20, 2026 | Assistants that act for you The AI provider each one uses, and Manus itself5Manus privacy policyNov 1, 2026 | Local AI apps Nobody, while the AI runs on your computer | Self-hosted chat Your server, and the AI behind it |
| Which AI | Jean Any: on this computer, a free one, your key, your plan, your company’s Built | Chat apps from AI companies The company’s own | Assistants that act for you One company’s, or any you set up | Local AI apps Open ones you download | Self-hosted chat Any you connect |
| What you install | Jean Nothing Built | Chat apps from AI companies Nothing on the web; apps if you like | Assistants that act for you An app, sometimes a terminal; nothing for Manus on the web6ManusNov 1, 2026 | Local AI apps An app, then downloads of several GB | Self-hosted chat A server, a database, updates |
| What it costs | Jean Jean is free; the AI may not be By design | Chat apps from AI companies Free with limits, then a monthly plan3ChatGPT pricing: content used to train, opt-out availableOct 20, 20267Claude pricingOct 20, 2026 | Assistants that act for you A plan, or your own keys; Manus counts credits8Manus pricingNov 1, 2026 | Local AI apps Free | Self-hosted chat Free software, plus running it |
| Can you leave with your things | Jean Plain files and backups; ChatGPT’s, Claude’s and Gemini’s exports come in Built | Chat apps from AI companies An export you ask for, sent by email9OpenAI help centre: exporting your dataOct 20, 202610Claude help centre: exporting your dataOct 20, 2026 | Assistants that act for you Files on your disk, or on Manus’s servers; history varies5Manus privacy policyNov 1, 2026 | Local AI apps Files on your disk | Self-hosted chat A database you can copy |
| For a family | Jean A profile per child, set by a parent Built | Chat apps from AI companies It varies: ChatGPT from 13 with parental controls, Claude for adults only11OpenAI help centre: parental controlsOct 20, 202612Anthropic consumer terms: 18 and overOct 20, 2026 | Assistants that act for you Not made for children | Local AI apps Not made for children | Self-hosted chat Up to whoever runs it |
ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini? You don’t have to choose.
Each does some things better, and the order changes every few months. In Jean you use each where it does best, and switch from the box, task by task.
The AI on this computer
Free, no sign-up, works offline. Needs 12 GB of memory and a recent graphics chip.
BuiltA free one
One click, with a free OpenRouter account.
BuiltYour key
Thirteen services, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Mistral among them.
With a keyYour plan
ChatGPT, Claude or GitHub Copilot, through This computer: a line you paste once, on a computer.
Built · on a computer
Coming from one of them? Bring your history: ChatGPT’s, Claude’s and Gemini’s exports come in, nothing twice.
Bring your historyCompared one by one
ChatGPT
Keep ChatGPT if you like. Your files stay on your device.Jean and ChatGPTClaude Cowork
Open source, in a browser tab, with any AI.Jean and Claude CoworkManus
The work on your device, with any AI and no credits.Jean and ManusOpenClaw
It works inside the browser’s fence, and asks before anything leaves it.Jean and OpenClawOpen WebUI
A static folder in front of Ollama, with no server to run.Jean and Open WebUI
The catch, plainly
Every tool has one. Here is Jean’s.
- Jean is free; the AI behind it may not be.
- Without a sign-up, only the AI on this computer answers. It needs 12 GB of memory and a recent graphics chip, and no phone runs it.
- Using a ChatGPT, Claude or GitHub Copilot plan takes This computer: a line to paste once, on a computer.
- Your work lives in this browser. Clear its data without a backup and it’s gone.
- It can be wrong. Numbers are calculated; check the words, as you would a colleague’s.
Questions people ask
Is Jean a ChatGPT alternative?
It can be. It can also be where you use ChatGPT, with your files kept on your device. Jean is the app; the AI is your choice.
Which is best: ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini?
It depends on the task, and it changes often. In Jean you can switch the AI from the box and ask again.
Is it free?
Jean is free and open source. The AI may cost: free on this computer or with a free account, otherwise your key or your plan.
Do I need an account?
Not with the AI on this computer. The free one asks for an OpenRouter account.
Is there a European option?
Jean is made in France and open source. Its AI can be European too: Mistral’s with your key, or one on your own computer.
Try Jean with the AI you already use
Facts about other products were checked on their makers’ own pages, on the day given beside each. Product names are their makers’ trademarks; Jean is not affiliated with any of them.
- 1Claude Cowork ·
- 2Manus docs: welcome ·
- 3ChatGPT pricing: content used to train, opt-out available ·
- 4Claude privacy: used to train only if you allow it ·
- 5Manus privacy policy ·
- 6Manus ·
- 7Claude pricing ·
- 8Manus pricing ·
- 9OpenAI help centre: exporting your data ·
- 10Claude help centre: exporting your data ·
- 11OpenAI help centre: parental controls ·
- 12Anthropic consumer terms: 18 and over ·