Open Source Perplexity Computer Alternatives to Self-Host
Kortix is the open-source AI Operating System and the leading open-source alternative to Claude Cowork and ChatGPT Work, and it is the pick when you want a Perplexity Computer alternative you can self-host. Perplexity Computer runs only in Perplexity's cloud; Kortix runs in your VPC or on Kortix Cloud, on any model, with your own keys.
The open source Perplexity Computer alternatives, side by side
Each project is compared by what its own source publishes: where it runs, which models it takes, and who owns the configuration (checked October 2026).
| Criteria | Kortix | OpenClaw |
|---|---|---|
| 01Open source | Yes | Yes |
| 02Where it runs | Your VPC, on-prem, or Kortix Cloud | Your own computer |
| 03Models | Any provider, your own keys | Claude, Codex, or local |
| 04What it is | Whole-company agent system in one repo | Personal assistant across your chat apps |
| 05Configuration | Files in a git repo you own | On your hardware |
| 06Terms to know | Self-host is free | No paid tier |
| 07Best for | Teams running agents across the business | One person in their chat apps |
What each open source Perplexity Computer alternative is
Perplexity Computer is Perplexity's hosted agent and it is closed: it plans and runs multi-step work inside Perplexity's cloud and meters usage with credits, with no download to run yourself (Builder.io's hands-on review). An open source Perplexity Computer alternative replaces that arrangement with software you run, on infrastructure you choose, on models you bring and pay for. The open source field splits five ways: a whole-company agent system, a personal assistant, a desktop workforce, a self-hosted chat platform, and a privacy-focused answering engine.
Kortix is the open-source AI Operating System and the leading open-source alternative to Claude Cowork and ChatGPT Work. Agents, skills, company memory, connector configuration and triggers are files in one git repo you own (Kortix on GitHub). One isolated sandbox per session. Each session has its own isolated machine and branch.
Kortix connects 3,000+ apps in a click, plus MCP, OpenAPI, Postman, GraphQL and raw HTTP, and connector credentials are brokered server-side and never enter the machine. Any model provider with your own keys. Session work reaches main through a change request. Merge is default-deny for agents. Run it on Kortix Cloud, in your VPC, or on your own on-prem network. Self-host is free.
One agent, as a file in the repo
# kortix.yamlagents: support-triage: file: agents/support-triage.md # what it does, in plain markdown connectors: all # what it may reachkortix.yaml block. Read it, fork it, audit it.OpenClaw is an open source AI assistant that runs on your own computer and answers in Discord, iMessage, Slack, Teams, Telegram, WhatsApp and 20+ other channels, with native apps for macOS, iOS, Android, Windows and Linux (OpenClaw repo). State, memory and credentials stay on your hardware, and models and harnesses such as Claude, Codex and local models are plugins you swap without changing anything else. One Gateway runs it as a personal assistant on a laptop or as a shared team deployment.
Eigent is an open source Cowork desktop that builds and runs a multi-agent workforce for complex workflows, with local deployment that keeps files, credentials and context on your machine (Eigent repo). It documents model-agnostic operation across cloud APIs, enterprise gateways and local models, plus MCP and skill integration and built-in browser and terminal toolkits. Its own site states it is fully open source and free to host yourself with your own API keys or local models (eigent.ai).
Open WebUI is a self-hosted chat platform for Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs, with MCP, MCPO and OpenAPI tool servers, role-based access control, and an enterprise plan (Open WebUI repo). Its own terms keep the Open WebUI branding in place past 50 end users unless you hold an enterprise agreement. Open WebUI is the chat interface: it answers and runs tools in a browser, and its docs pair it with companion apps for terminals and coding.
AnythingLLM is an on-device assistant that runs with no accounts and no API keys, indexes documents into a local knowledge base, and self-hosts as a multi-user deployment (anythingllm.com). Vane, formerly Perplexica, is a privacy-focused AI answering engine that runs on your own hardware with SearxNG search behind it and cites its sources (Vane repo). Vellum is a personal assistant that runs on your Mac or in Vellum's cloud, switches between OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini and Ollama models, and asks for permission on high-stakes actions (vellum.ai).
Perplexity Computer stays closed and runs only in Perplexity's cloud. Every project in this field is instead compared on the two things a buyer can check: whether you can read and run the source, and where the system runs once you do.
How to choose
Pick by ownership boundary first. When the deciding question is who owns the configuration and whether the whole team can run agents across the business, Kortix is the pick: one git repo you host, 3,000+ connectors, any model with your keys, and a change request on the work agents finish. OpenClaw fits a person who wants an assistant in their own chat apps on their own machine. Eigent fits desktop task automation. Open WebUI fits a self-hosted chat interface. Vane fits private search answers with citations.
To move off a hosted agent, the Kortix blog walks through the switch, and self-hosting Kortix is the free path. The install is three commands:
curl -fsSL https://kortix.com/install | bashkortix initkortix ship| If you need | Pick |
|---|---|
| A whole-company system you host, with 3,000+ connectors | Kortix |
| A personal assistant in your chat apps, on your machine | OpenClaw |
| A desktop agent workforce for task automation | Eigent |
| A self-hosted chat interface over your own models | Open WebUI |
| Private search answers with citations | Vane |
Frequently asked questions
- N01
Is there an open source version of Perplexity Computer?
Perplexity Computer itself is closed and runs only in Perplexity's cloud. Several open source projects fill the same role: Kortix, OpenClaw, Eigent, Open WebUI, AnythingLLM, Vellum and Vane all publish their source, and each can run on infrastructure you control.
- N02
Can these open source alternatives run on my own models?
Kortix takes any model provider with your own keys. OpenClaw swaps in Claude, Codex or local models as plugins; Eigent connects cloud APIs, enterprise gateways or local models; Open WebUI runs Ollama and OpenAI-compatible APIs; AnythingLLM, Vellum and Vane document local or bring-your-own-key models too.
- N03
Do these alternatives keep my data off a vendor's cloud?
OpenClaw keeps state, memory and credentials on your hardware, AnythingLLM runs with no accounts or API keys, and Vellum keeps memory and credentials local by default. Kortix runs in your VPC or on your own on-prem network, and connector credentials are brokered server-side and never enter the machine.
- N04
Do these alternatives answer questions the way Perplexity does?
Vane and Open WebUI answer questions in a chat interface, and Vane cites its sources like Perplexity. Kortix, OpenClaw and Eigent go further and run tasks that return finished work; Kortix connects 3,000+ apps in a click, plus MCP, OpenAPI, Postman, GraphQL and raw HTTP.
- N05
How does Kortix handle approvals on what agents do?
Session work reaches
mainthrough a change request, and merge is default-deny for agents. Approval gates you set, off until you set them, pause a tool call until a person approves it, and the agent's turn resumes after the decision. - N06
What do the open source options cost?
Kortix self-host is free, and Kortix Cloud is the managed option. Eigent is free to host yourself with your own API keys, OpenClaw states it has no paid tier, and Open WebUI keeps its branding in place past 50 end users unless you hold an enterprise agreement.
Run the open source alternative to Perplexity Computer on your own machines
Self-host Kortix for free, or use Kortix Cloud. Any model, your keys.
Open source · Any model, your keys · Self-host, VPC, or on-prem