An XDA writer this week described stitching Gemma 4 to Claude with a short Python script, just to get reasoning from one model and refinement from another. It works. It also turns every conversation into a side project. The seven desktop apps below give you the same multi-model setup, in a chat window, with no script to maintain. We tested each on Windows, macOS, and Linux against the workflows that send people looking for a routing layer in the first place: comparing answers across providers, falling back to a local model when a cloud one rate-limits, and keeping all of it under one history.
These are not “chat with one model” wrappers. Each one connects to at least three providers in parallel, runs locally when you ask it to, and lets you bring your own API keys instead of paying per provider.
What to look for in a multi-model chat app
The honest sorting criteria, in order:
- Provider coverage that matches your keys. The big four (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral) are table stakes. Bonus points for Groq, OpenRouter, DeepSeek, and Ollama for local models.
- Side-by-side comparison. If two models answer at once and you read them in parallel, you stop guessing which one is better for the task.
- Conversation forking and branching. When an answer goes sideways, you want to retry from a midpoint, not paste the prompt again.
- Bring-your-own-key support. The whole point is avoiding five subscriptions. The app should hand your keys to providers directly, not proxy through its own billing.
- Self-host vs. SaaS. If you’re moving sensitive prompts, self-host. If you want polish out of the box, pay for a hosted one.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | License | Local LLM support | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open WebUI | Self-hosted multi-provider hub | Open-source | Yes (Ollama-native) | Free |
| LibreChat | Polished open-source ChatGPT replacement | Open-source | Yes (via Ollama) | Free |
| Msty | Native desktop app, zero setup | Free + paid | Yes (built-in) | Free; $9/mo paid |
| TypingMind | SaaS polish without subscription churn | Paid | Yes (via Ollama) | $39 one-time |
| Big-AGI | Power-user features, parallel chats | Open-source | Yes (via Ollama) | Free |
| BoltAI | Mac-native chat with shortcuts | Paid | Yes (via Ollama) | $25 one-time |
| ChatHub | Side-by-side answers in a browser | Free + paid | Limited | Free; $5/mo paid |
The apps
1. Open WebUI — Best self-hosted hub
Open WebUI started as the Ollama frontend and grew into a full multi-provider chat with users in the hundreds of thousands. Run it in Docker, point it at your Ollama instance and your OpenAI / Anthropic / Google / OpenRouter keys, and it talks to all of them from the same UI. Document upload with built-in RAG, web search, image generation, and conversation pinning are there. The interface is close enough to ChatGPT that switching costs are basically zero.
Where it falls short: Self-hosted means you maintain it. Updates land weekly, and a few features (web search, RAG) want extra services running alongside.
Pricing: Free, open-source (MIT).
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (Docker), or any Docker host.
Download: Open WebUI site
Bottom line: Pick this if you already run Docker and want a single place that handles cloud APIs, Ollama, RAG, and web search.
2. LibreChat — Best open-source ChatGPT clone
LibreChat is the polished open-source equivalent of ChatGPT with multi-provider support baked in. Connect OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, OpenRouter, Azure, and Ollama with separate keys per user. Plugins, code interpreter, image generation, and assistants all carry over. The auth layer supports SSO, which makes it the usual choice when a small team wants one shared chat.
Where it falls short: Configuration lives in YAML and env vars. The first hour is fiddly even if you know what you’re doing.
Pricing: Free, open-source (MIT).
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (Docker or Node).
Download: LibreChat site
Bottom line: Pick this for a multi-user, ChatGPT-style team install with serious provider coverage and SSO.
3. Msty — Best zero-setup native app
Msty is a native desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux that handles cloud and local models without any Docker step. Download, paste your API keys, and chat. The split-view lets you run the same prompt against two models at once and read both answers side by side. Conversation branching is built in. The bundled Knowledge Stacks feature ingests folders or websites for retrieval without standing up a separate vector store.
Where it falls short: Sync between machines is paid. Some integrations (web search) require the paid tier.
Pricing: Free for local use; Aurum tier at $9/month for sync and advanced features.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: Msty site
Bottom line: Pick this if you want a polished desktop app today without spending an afternoon on Docker.
4. TypingMind — Best one-time-purchase hosted option
TypingMind is a hosted multi-provider chat that runs in a browser but installs as a desktop app via web wrappers. You buy it once and it points at your own API keys, so you pay providers directly and avoid the monthly ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro stack. Plugins, prompt libraries, conversation folders, and AI characters are well-implemented. Good support for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, OpenRouter, and DeepSeek.
Where it falls short: Web-app feel even when wrapped. No native macOS shortcuts. The cheapest tier limits a few power-user features (custom plugins).
Pricing: $39 one-time (Basic) or $79 one-time (Pro). No subscription.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (web wrapper).
Download: TypingMind site
Bottom line: Pick this if you want a polished UI today, hate subscriptions, and want to bring your own API keys for every provider.
5. Big-AGI — Best for parallel-chat power users
Big-AGI is an open-source chat that takes parallel chats further than anyone else. Run the same prompt against four models in four columns and watch them stream at once. Personas, beam search across responses, voice mode, and a draw mode for image models all ship in the same app. It supports almost every provider you’ve heard of and several you haven’t (Together, Perplexity, Lemonfox, LocalAI).
Where it falls short: UI density is high. New users sometimes find the controls overwhelming on first launch.
Pricing: Free, open-source (MIT).
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (web or Docker).
Download: Big-AGI site
Bottom line: Pick this if you spend hours a day comparing model outputs and want every keyboard shortcut and view mode possible.
6. BoltAI — Best Mac-native experience
BoltAI is a Mac-only native app built around system-wide AI shortcuts. Highlight text in any app, hit a hotkey, and pick which model rewrites or summarizes it. Image generation, custom assistants, and folder organization round out the chat side. Provider support covers OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Azure, Ollama, and OpenRouter.
Where it falls short: macOS only. Some niche providers absent. The one-time purchase covers one device; multi-device sync is paid.
Pricing: $25 one-time for the standard license; pro and team tiers higher.
Platforms: macOS only.
Download: BoltAI site
Bottom line: Pick this on macOS if you want AI inside every app you use, not only inside a chat window.
7. ChatHub — Best lightweight side-by-side option
ChatHub is a browser extension and web app that shows two to six model responses side by side in a split view. Connect ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Bing, and OpenRouter accounts and run a single prompt against all of them. The free tier covers the basics; the paid tier adds image generation and prompt library features.
Where it falls short: Browser-based, not a native app. Some providers require web sessions instead of API keys, which can break when the underlying sites update.
Pricing: Free; ChatHub Premium at $59 lifetime or $5/month.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (browser).
Download: ChatHub site
Bottom line: Pick this if you want side-by-side answers in five minutes without installing anything.
How to pick the right one
- If you self-host and run Docker: Open WebUI is the default.
- If you want a team install with SSO: LibreChat.
- If you don’t want to touch Docker and need it working in an hour: Msty.
- If you want polish, no subscriptions, and your own API keys: TypingMind.
- If you stare at model outputs all day and want a six-pane parallel view: Big-AGI.
- If you’re on a Mac and want AI inside every app: BoltAI.
- If you just want side-by-side answers for free: ChatHub.
FAQ
What is the best free multi-LLM chat app for desktop?
Open WebUI and LibreChat are both fully free and cover the same providers as paid apps. Msty’s free tier also covers local and cloud chat without limits. Pick Open WebUI or LibreChat if you self-host, Msty if you want a native app.
Can I use my own API keys instead of a subscription?
Yes. Every app on this list supports bring-your-own-key. You pay providers directly (usually cheaper than ChatGPT Plus and Claude Pro combined for occasional use) and the app routes prompts to whichever model you pick.
Which app runs both cloud models and local Ollama models?
Open WebUI, LibreChat, Msty, TypingMind, Big-AGI, and BoltAI all support Ollama alongside cloud providers. Msty is the quickest path from install to working chat.
Is there a Mac-native multi-LLM chat app?
Yes. BoltAI is Mac-only with native UI. Msty has a real Mac build too. Most others run as web wrappers or in a browser.
Why not just use ChatGPT and Claude in separate tabs?
Cost and friction. With separate subscriptions you pay roughly twice what API access costs for medium usage, and you can’t run the same prompt through both at once. Multi-model apps remove both problems.
