HuggingChat
HuggingChat is Hugging Face’s chat app for open-source AI models, with an automatic model picker called Omni and an open-source codebase anyone can host.
About this tool
HuggingChat is the chat assistant run by Hugging Face, the platform where developers share open AI models, datasets and demos. Instead of a single proprietary model, it gives access to a selection of open-source models. Its Omni mode chooses the model it judges best for each request, and users can also pick a specific open model to talk to directly.
The code behind HuggingChat is itself open source. Called Chat UI, it is a SvelteKit application that works with any OpenAI-compatible API, so organisations can host their own version connected to Hugging Face Inference Providers, a llama.cpp server, Ollama or another endpoint. Hugging Face also promotes an ML Intern agent that plans and runs machine learning tasks.
What you can do
Open-source models
Chat with a range of open models instead of a single proprietary one.
Omni model router
Omni automatically picks a suitable model for each request to improve answers.
Manual model choice
Select any available open model to compare how different models respond.
Self-hostable Chat UI
The open-source code can be deployed against any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, including local servers.
Who is it for?
- A researcher compares answers from several open models on the same question.
- A company deploys its own Chat UI connected to an internal model server.
- A student uses an open model assistant without paying for a subscription.
Before you choose
Open models vary in quality and safety tuning; compare outputs and verify important answers.
Self-hosting Chat UI requires an OpenAI-compatible backend and some technical setup.
Frequently asked questions
Is HuggingChat free?
HuggingChat can be used for free with a Hugging Face account. Check Hugging Face for any usage limits or paid credits.
What is Omni in HuggingChat?
Omni is HuggingChat’s automatic mode that selects the open-source model it considers best for each of your requests.
Can I host my own HuggingChat?
Yes. Its Chat UI codebase is open source and works with any OpenAI-compatible API, such as llama.cpp, Ollama or Hugging Face providers.
Check the official website for current features, pricing, and terms.
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