LobeHub (LobeChat) vs NextChat
Short answer
LobeHub (LobeChat): Polished multi-model chat and agent workspace with plugins and knowledge bases. NextChat: Lightweight ChatGPT-style web app you can run with one Docker command. Both are in our Private ChatGPT-style chat category.
Choose NextChat if you want: fewer license conditions (Permissive vs Custom / conditional) and simpler deploy (one container vs a multi-container stack).
NextChat publishes no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.
Last updated · computed from each project's official docs and live GitHub data · sources
LobeHub (LobeChat) vs NextChat side by side
| LobeHub (LobeChat) | NextChat | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Private ChatGPT-style chat | Private ChatGPT-style chat |
| What it is | Polished multi-model chat and agent workspace with plugins and knowledge bases. | Lightweight ChatGPT-style web app you can run with one Docker command. |
| License | LobeHub Community License (Apache-2.0 with conditions) | MIT |
| License type | Custom / conditional | Permissive |
| License conditions | Commercial use is allowed as a frontend and backend service without modifying the source. Developing and distributing a derivative work requires a commercial license from LobeHub. | Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep the license notice. Branding, admin panel and permissions are sold separately as an Enterprise Edition. |
| Status | Active | Active |
| GitHub stars | 83.4k | 88.9k |
| Last commit | Oct 22, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Latest release | v2.2.20 | v2.16.1 |
| Minimum hardware | 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM · 20 GB disk | Not published |
| Recommended hardware | 4 vCPU · 8 GB RAM · 50 GB disk | Not published |
| RAM measured by us | Not tested yet | 42 MiB idle, 57 MiB working (our test, v2.16.1, Oct 22, 2026) |
| GPU | Not required / not stated | Not required / not stated |
| Est. server cost | from €19.99/mo (recommended spec: €35.99/mo) | from €6.49/mo (based on our test, not official) |
| Deploy method | Docker Compose (setup script) | Docker |
| Known gotchas | 3 listed | 3 listed |
| Telemetry | Not documented | Not documented |
| Calls home by default | Not documented | Not documented |
| SSO (OIDC / SAML / LDAP) | Free (OIDC free) | Not documented |
| Audit log | Not documented | Not documented |
| RBAC | Not documented | Not documented |
| Details | Full LobeHub (LobeChat) guide → | Full NextChat guide → |
Key differences
- License: LobeHub (LobeChat): LobeHub Community License (Apache-2.0 with conditions) (Custom / conditional). NextChat: MIT (Permissive).
- Official hardware: LobeHub (LobeChat): minimum 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM · 20 GB disk (recommended 4 vCPU · 8 GB RAM · 50 GB disk). NextChat: not published.
- Est. server cost: LobeHub (LobeChat): from €19.99/mo. NextChat: not estimated (no official RAM figure).
- Deploy: LobeHub (LobeChat): Docker Compose (setup script) · multi-container stack. NextChat: Docker · single container.
- GitHub stars: LobeHub (LobeChat): 83.4k. NextChat: 88.9k.
- Last commit: LobeHub (LobeChat): Oct 22, 2026. NextChat: Oct 20, 2026.
- Latest release: LobeHub (LobeChat): v2.2.20 (Oct 18, 2026). NextChat: v2.16.1 (Jul 29, 2025).
Same for both: Category: Private ChatGPT-style chat; GPU: not required or not stated; Status: Active.
LobeHub (LobeChat) vs NextChat: FAQ
LobeHub (LobeChat) or NextChat: which should a small business choose?
Choose NextChat if you want: fewer license conditions (Permissive vs Custom / conditional) and simpler deploy (one container vs a multi-container stack). NextChat publishes no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.
Which is cheaper to self-host, LobeHub (LobeChat) or NextChat?
LobeHub (LobeChat): from €19.99/mo. NextChat: not estimated (no official RAM figure). Our estimate is the cheapest Hetzner Cloud plan that meets each project's official RAM and vCPU figure; it covers the server only.
How much hardware do LobeHub (LobeChat) and NextChat need?
LobeHub (LobeChat): minimum 2 vCPU · 4 GB RAM · 20 GB disk (recommended 4 vCPU · 8 GB RAM · 50 GB disk). NextChat: not published.
What is the license difference between LobeHub (LobeChat) and NextChat?
LobeHub (LobeChat): LobeHub Community License (Apache-2.0 with conditions) (Custom / conditional). Commercial use is allowed as a frontend and backend service without modifying the source. Developing and distributing a derivative work requires a commercial license from LobeHub. NextChat: MIT (Permissive). Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep the license notice. Branding, admin panel and permissions are sold separately as an Enterprise Edition. This is a summary, not legal advice.
Is LobeHub (LobeChat) or NextChat more actively maintained?
LobeHub (LobeChat): Active, last commit Oct 22, 2026. NextChat: Active, last commit Oct 20, 2026. GitHub data refreshed Oct 22, 2026.
Which is easier to deploy, LobeHub (LobeChat) or NextChat?
LobeHub (LobeChat) installs via Docker Compose (setup script) (multi-container stack); NextChat via Docker (single container). LobeHub (LobeChat) lists 3 known gotchas and NextChat lists 3; see each app page.
Related
- LobeHub (LobeChat) self-hosting guide · NextChat self-hosting guide
- All LobeHub (LobeChat) alternatives, ranked
- All NextChat alternatives, ranked
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- Jan vs NextChat
- LibreChat vs LobeHub (LobeChat)
- LibreChat vs NextChat
- LobeHub (LobeChat) vs Open WebUI
- NextChat vs Open WebUI
- Add a third app in the interactive comparison
Sources
- LobeHub (LobeChat) GitHub repository: github.com/lobehub/lobehub
- LobeHub (LobeChat) documentation, LobeHub (LobeChat) hardware requirements, LobeHub (LobeChat) deploy instructions: lobehub.com/docs/self-hosting/platform/docker-compose
- LobeHub (LobeChat) license: github.com/lobehub/lobehub/blob/main/LICENSE
- NextChat GitHub repository: github.com/ChatGPTNextWeb/NextChat
- NextChat documentation: github.com/ChatGPTNextWeb/NextChat#deployment
- NextChat license: github.com/ChatGPTNextWeb/NextChat/blob/main/LICENSE
- NextChat hardware requirements: github.com/ChatGPTNextWeb/NextChat#requirements
- NextChat deploy instructions: github.com/ChatGPTNextWeb/NextChat#docker-recommended
- Hetzner Cloud pricing used for cost estimates (read 2026-10-22): www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance
- GitHub REST API (stars, commits, releases): docs.github.com/en/rest
Every value is generated from the same verified data as the app pages. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.