- OpenAI Dots alternative: Open Dots is a free, open-source AI assistant app that runs locally on your own computer.
- Any model: Use models from any provider, including self-hosted and open-weight models, with per-assistant model selection.
- No subscription: Paste an API key and pay only for usage, or log in with an existing ChatGPT or Claude plan.
- Data control: Chats are saved on your machine and API keys are encrypted; local models keep everything on-device.
- Safety checkpoint: Nothing runs by default — risky actions trigger an approval card, and every decision is logged.
Why Consider an OpenAI Dots Alternative?
OpenAI Dots delivers AI assistants that work around the clock on OpenAI's servers, but the model comes with built-in trade-offs: it requires a paid plan, runs only on OpenAI infrastructure, and limits you to OpenAI's models. If you want more control over pricing, privacy, and model choice, the open-source project Open Dots is the leading alternative as of September 2026.
Open Dots is an independently built AI assistant app — not affiliated with OpenAI — that runs on your own computer. You chat with it, give it tools, and it can even operate a browser on your behalf. Over 4,000 developers have already starred or started with the project on GitHub.
Video Highlights:
- Open Dots runs locally, is free to download, and is not affiliated with OpenAI
- Any model works: hosted providers, self-run models, or per-assistant model mixing
- Pay-per-use API keys replace subscriptions; existing ChatGPT or Claude plans can be reused
- A single permission checkpoint gates every assistant action, with full logging
- Optional sealed browser environments give each assistant its own sandboxed computer
Open Dots appeals most to developers and power users who already hold API keys or run local models. If you only want a turnkey assistant with zero setup, OpenAI Dots still does more out of the box today.
Feature Comparison: OpenAI Dots vs Open Dots
The core difference comes down to openness versus convenience. Dots gives you one company's models on one company's servers. Open Dots gives you any model, on your hardware, under your rules.
| Feature | OpenAI Dots | Open Dots |
|---|---|---|
| Cost model | Paid subscription plan | Free download, pay-per-use API |
| Models supported | OpenAI models only | Any provider, self-hosted, open models |
| Where it runs | OpenAI cloud servers | Your own computer |
| Data storage | Provider-side | Local; chats saved on your machine |
| API keys | Managed by OpenAI | Self-managed, encrypted locally |
| Safety controls | Provider-managed | Open-code checkpoint, per-action approval |
| Setup effort | None, works out of the box | A few terminal commands |
| Maturity | Production service | Prototype, single-user for now |
Open Dots is still a prototype. It is built for one person for now, and OpenAI Dots offers more capabilities out of the box today. Evaluate whether the flexibility is worth the setup and maintenance effort.
Cost & Billing
- No new subscription
- Paste an API key, pay per use
- Reuse existing ChatGPT or Claude plans
Model Freedom
- Any provider by name
- Mix models per assistant
- Cheap model for chores, strong model for hard problems
Privacy & Data
- Chats stay local
- Keys encrypted on-device
- Local model = nothing leaves your machine
Setup Guide: Running Open Dots in Minutes
Setting up Open Dots takes a few commands. Every setting is documented in the project README on GitHub, so follow this sequence and consult the repo for details specific to your operating system.
Download the Code
Clone the Open Dots repository from GitHub. The project is free for everyone, and pull requests are welcome if you want to contribute.
Start the Server
Launch the local server component. This is what hosts your assistants and enforces the permission checkpoint on your machine.
Start the App
Open the app interface. This is where you chat with assistants, assign tools, and review the activity log.
Add Your Model
Type in a model name from any provider, or point it at a model you run yourself. Each assistant can use a different model.
Configure Permissions
Review the default permission rules. Nothing is allowed by default — risky actions stop and ask you first via an approval card.
Once the server is running and a model is connected, you have a working local alternative to OpenAI Dots with zero subscription cost and full model freedom.
Privacy, Safety, and Integrations
Privacy is the strongest argument for this OpenAI Dots alternative. Chats are saved on your computer, and your API keys are encrypted. If you want total privacy, connect a model running on your own machine and nothing ever leaves it. If you use a hosted model, only your messages go to that provider — the one you picked.
Safety is handled through a single checkpoint. Whenever an assistant wants to do something, the action passes through this gate. Ask it to delete a folder and an approval card pops up. Every decision is logged, and the rules are open code you can read and change.
Open Dots can give each assistant its own sealed-off browser environment. This part is optional — avoid sending sandboxed assistants to untrusted websites unless you have reviewed the permission rules.
Integration support rounds out the package. Sign in once to a service like GitHub, then tell your assistant what to do right from the chat — for example, checking or creating issues.
| Privacy Level | Setup | What Leaves Your Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum | Local model on your hardware | Nothing |
| Balanced | Hosted model with your API key | Messages to your chosen provider only |
| Convenience | Existing ChatGPT or Claude login | Handled by that provider's plan |
Security Checklist Before First Run:
- Review the permission rules in the open-source code
- Encrypt or securely store your API keys
- Decide which assistants get browser access
- Check the decision log after your first risky action
- Confirm where chats are saved on your machine
FAQ
Q: Is Open Dots affiliated with OpenAI?
No. Open Dots is independently built and is not affiliated with OpenAI. It is an open-source project available on GitHub with over 4,000 developers involved, and pull requests are welcome.
Q: Can this OpenAI Dots alternative use models other than OpenAI's?
Yes. You can type in a model name from any provider or one you run yourself, including open models. Each assistant can use a different model — a cheap one for routine chores and a powerful one for hard problems.
Q: Do I need another subscription to use Open Dots?
No new subscription is required. You paste in an API key and pay only for what you use, or you can log in with an existing ChatGPT or Claude plan and use it here instead.
Q: How does Open Dots handle risky actions?
Every assistant action passes through one permission checkpoint. Nothing is allowed by default; anything risky stops and asks you first with an approval card. Every decision is logged, and the rules are open code you can read and change.