NextChat is a cross-platform AI chat application (~5MB) that connects to multiple LLM providers while storing data locally in the browser. It requires an external paid API key for functionality but supports one-click deployment via Vercel or Docker.
Project overview
NextChat is a cross-platform AI chat application (~5MB) that connects to multiple LLM providers while storing data locally in the browser. It requires an external paid API key for functionality but supports one-click deployment via Vercel or Docker.
Project type
Model Runtime
Use cases
Chat Assistants
Deployment
Web app
License
MIT
Best for
General users seeking a lightweight, cross-platform client with local browser storage and multiple LLM provider support.
Users wanting to create, share, and debug chat tools using prompt templates (masks).
Key capabilities
Provides a compact client (~5MB) running on Linux, Windows, MacOS, and iOS.
Stores all user data locally in the browser.
Compatible with multiple AI providers and self-deployed LLMs.
Allows creating, sharing and debugging chat tools with prompt templates (mask).
Easily preview, copy and share generated content/webpages through a separate window.
Supports network search, calculator, and other APIs.
Supports realtime chat capabilities.
Provides support for MCP when built with ENABLE_MCP=true.
Limitations and risks
Requires an external paid API key to function.
Getting started
Setup difficulty is rated as easy, supporting one-click deployment on Vercel in under 1 minute with minimal configuration.
To start, obtain an OpenAI API Key, click Deploy with Vercel, and launch the application.
Evidence and sources
GitHub project description: ✨ Light and Fast AI Assistant. Support: Web | iOS | MacOS | Android | Linux | Windows
Release: v2.16.1
README: Before build, please set env ENABLE_MCP=true