More AI vs Jan
Jan is an open-source, privacy-first desktop AI app that runs local models and connects to cloud APIs. More AI shares that local-first spirit and adds a coding agent, document generation and scheduled routines in one app.
Jan is an open-source desktop app for chatting with AI privately — it runs local models and can also connect to cloud APIs, stores your data on your machine, and is built around no-telemetry, privacy-first values. It’s one of the closest tools in spirit to More AI.
More AI shares those values — local-first data, your choice of provider, no required account — and adds agentic modes: Cowork for files and documents and Code for repositories, plus scheduled routines. If you want a minimal open-source chat app, Jan is excellent; if you want those agent features too, here’s the comparison.
| More AI | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Desktop assistant: chat, documents and a coding agent | Privacy-first desktop chat app |
| Models | Cloud providers (BYOK) and local models | Local models and cloud APIs (BYOK) |
| What you pay | Free app; you pay your provider per use, at cost | Free, open source; you pay your provider per use |
| Open source | Closed-source app, free to use | Yes |
| Account | Optional — works fully without one | Not required |
| Where data lives | On your machine, in local storage | On your machine |
| Agent features | Cowork (files & documents), Code (repositories), routines | Chat; assistants and extensions |
What is Jan?
Jan is an open-source, privacy-first desktop AI app. It runs models locally and can also connect to cloud providers with your own keys, keeps your conversations on your machine, and avoids telemetry. It’s a clean, focused way to chat with AI on your own terms.
For people who want an open-source, private chat app — and the ability to run fully offline — Jan is a great choice.
What is More AI?
More AI is a free desktop app that shares Jan’s local-first, BYOK approach but adds agent modes: Cowork reads and edits files and generates Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, and Code is a planning coding agent for your repositories with an approval model. It also runs scheduled routines on your machine.
So the core privacy posture is similar — your data on your machine, your choice of provider, no account required — but More AI reaches beyond chat into doing work with your files and code.
When Jan is the better choice
Jan is the better pick in clear cases.
- You want a fully open-source app you can inspect and self-host.
- You mainly want private chat with local or cloud models, kept simple.
- Open source is a hard requirement for you.
When More AI fits better
More AI fits when you want agent features alongside chat.
- You want document generation (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) from an AI that reads your files.
- You want a coding agent that works on your repositories with your approval.
- You want scheduled routines that run AI tasks on your machine.
- You still want local-first data, BYO keys, local models and no required account.
FAQ
Are both local-first?
Yes. Jan and More AI both keep your data on your machine and can run against local models for fully offline use, and both let you bring your own cloud keys.
Is More AI open source like Jan?
Jan is open source. More AI’s app is free to use but not open source. The privacy posture — local data, your own keys — is similar.
What does More AI add over a chat app?
Agent modes: Cowork for files and document generation, Code for repositories, and scheduled routines — beyond a chat window.
Do I need an account?
No — neither requires one. More AI’s optional free account only powers cross-device sync.