Open-source AI assistants you can self-host
Which open-source AI assistants can I run myself, and how do they score?
Updated · 3 assistants ranked
Three assistants in our catalog describe themselves as open source: Joshu, OpenClaw and OpenInstinct. All three took at least two of our ten tests, so all three are ranked below. OpenClaw and OpenInstinct are free, MIT-licensed software you run yourself and pay your own model and hosting costs for; Joshu is open source but sold as a hosted plan at $95 a month.
Top picks
- 16.0OpenInstinctTop pick
Tested on 5 of 10Best: Online tasks10, Permissions7
- 25.1OpenClawBest free option
Tested on 10 of 10Best: Online tasks7, Routines7
- 34.5
Tested on 4 of 10Best: Online tasks5, Email5
Top pick: highest average here. Best free option: highest among assistants you can use for free. Fastest that's still good: quickest median time to finish among those averaging 7 or more.
Full ranking
| # | Assistant | Online tasks | Travel | Purchasing | Phone calls | Proactive | Routines | Connected apps | Permissions | Memory | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenInstinct | 10 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6.0 |
| 2 | OpenClaw | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5.1 |
| 3 | Joshu | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 5 | — | 3 | 4.5 |
How this report works
A catalog entry is included when its own description says it is open source (checked 2026-10-26, listed on each assistant's page). Included assistants need at least two of the ten tests and are ranked by the average of the tests they took. Scores come from the published score sheet and are dated 2026-10-27. 2 of the 3 ranked assistants carry pre-filled scores, which are placeholder estimates the site has not yet replaced with its own test runs, so treat their places as provisional. OpenInstinct has five tests behind its average and OpenClaw ten, so the averages are not equally solid.
How to choose
- Decide who runs the server. OpenClaw says your state, memory and credentials stay on your own hardware; prompts still go to the model provider and chat platforms you set up.
- Count the running costs. OpenClaw and OpenInstinct have no paid tier, but you pay the model provider and, for OpenInstinct, services such as Vercel and Neon.
- Look at the tests that matter to you rather than only the average: OpenInstinct's average includes an Online task score of 10 next to an Email replies score of 3.
- Vellum is not ranked here because its description does not say open source, but its pricing says self-hosting has no platform fee; see its page if self-hosting is what you want.
What counts as an open-source AI assistant here?
A catalog entry whose own tagline or pricing note says it is open source or MIT licensed. Of 47 assistants in the catalog, 3 qualify: Joshu, OpenClaw and OpenInstinct (details as checked on 2026-10-26).
Do open-source assistants cost anything?
The software can be free but running it is not. OpenClaw and OpenInstinct list no paid tier and you pay your own model provider and hosting bills; Joshu is open source but sells a hosted plan at $95 a month with a 14-day free trial.
What users say
the memory just… drifts. Had it handling a simple multi-step task and it straight-up forgot a key detail from the same conversation 20 minutes earlier.
Open sourceIt figured out the Spotify API, wrote the skill itself, and now it just pings me.
Open sourceI just setup and it ordered me lunch, running on my own infra.
Open sourceFrequently asked questions
Which assistant is best for this?
OpenInstinct leads with an average of 6.0, ahead of OpenClaw and Joshu.
Is there a good free option?
OpenInstinct is the highest-ranked assistant with a free plan, averaging 6.0.
How did you test these assistants?
Every assistant got the same published tests, word for word, scored from three checkpoints and the number of corrections it needed. Each test is on the Dimensions page.