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OpenSourceAlternatives

OpenWork

Open source · OSI-approvedStatus: unknownNew

Open-source desktop workspace for teams to run AI agents

OpenWork is an open-source desktop workspace from Different AI that lets individuals and teams run AI agents against their own files, tools, and data. It presents itself as the open-source alternative to Claude Cowork, pairing a free MIT-licensed desktop app with team infrastructure for sharing skills, model access, and automations. Its pitch is sovereignty: bring your own API keys, choose from more than 50 models or local inference, and keep the setup portable instead of locked to one vendor.[1][2][3]

Quick verdict

Our assessment is that OpenWork merits evaluation by teams that already juggle several AI models and want one shared workspace for them. Its documented strengths are the free local desktop app, org-wide skill and MCP sharing, and self-hosting options. The material constraint is its split license and young control plane: production self-hosting beyond small teams needs a subscription, and two Cowork-parity features are still coming soon. Teams that want a fully managed, single-vendor assistant with phone dispatch today should weigh that gap before committing.[1][2][3][4][5]

Capabilities

  • Free desktop app with no account required The MIT-licensed desktop app runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, works locally on authorized folders, and needs no OpenWork account for local use.[1][2][3]

  • More than 50 models plus local inference The AI Gateway fronts OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, and other providers with one set of keys and limits, and local models are documented as an option.[1][2]

  • One-click reusable setups Skills, plugins, and MCP connections are packaged once and shared org-wide, so a teammate imports a working configuration instead of rebuilding it.[1][2]

  • MCP Gateway for the agents teams already use One documented command connects Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex to the org's skills and tools over HTTP.[1]

  • Browser automation and scheduled tasks The vendor's comparison table lists browser automation as included and scheduled tasks in alpha, alongside chat on files and tools.[1][2]

  • Claude Cowork migration path An official guide with agent-run scan, plan, and apply steps moves Cowork plugins, SKILL.md files, and connectors; history, credentials, and non-GitHub plugins stay behind.[1]

  • Self-hosting or managed cloud The platform self-hosts with Helm or Docker Compose and also runs as the browser-based Cloud app, with the vendor charging the same Team price either way.[1][2]

  • Team controls on paid plans Team adds SSO/SAML, an extension marketplace, and cloud automations; Enterprise adds SCIM, audit logging, desktop policies, white-labeling, and bring-your-own inference.[1]

Who it fits

  • If your work already spans Claude, GPT, Gemini, and local models, one gateway with per-team keys and limits directly serves that shape; bringing a single hosted key alone does not provide the same boundary.[1][2]

  • The MIT desktop app and the first five Cloud seats cost nothing, so a team of up to five can adopt the stack without procurement; larger production use still needs a subscription.[1]

  • Centrally managed skills, connectors, desktop policies, and version controls address the sprawl of everyone wiring their own tools; these are documented options, not evidence from our own deployment.[1][2]

Boundaries to check

  • Production use of the ee/ control plane beyond five users, development, or the 30-day evaluation requires a subscription under the EE License, so the MIT label does not cover the whole suite.[1][2]

  • Conversation history, saved credentials, plugins outside public GitHub repositories, and existing scheduled tasks do not transfer and must be recreated by hand; Dispatch and live artifacts are listed as coming soon.[1]

  • Model costs stay with the adopter through bring-your-own keys unless the $10-per-user managed inference add-on is bought, and hosted inference sends context to the selected provider.[1][2]

Questions worth asking

What is the best OpenWork alternative for non-technical users?

No evidence-backed universal pick emerged from this pass. OpenWork's documented path still asks for model keys or sign-in and folder authorization, so teams with nobody comfortable managing those should favor a fully managed option and trial the free desktop app first.[1][2]

Is OpenWork really no-code?

Day-to-day use is app-based and the vendor states no terminal is required, but technical steps remain: the migration path runs agent commands, and self-hosting uses Docker Compose or Helm. Expect no-code operation with technical setup.[1][2][3]

How much does OpenWork cost per month?

As checked October 12, 2026: Free is $0 including the MIT desktop app and first five Cloud seats; Team is $10 per seat per month billed monthly; Enterprise is custom annual pricing. Add-ons are Cloud Computer at $50 per member and managed inference at $10 per user, taxes excluded.[1]

Can you self-host OpenWork?

Yes, with edition limits. The desktop app is free and MIT-licensed, and the control plane self-hosts via Helm or Docker Compose free for up to five users, for development and testing, and for 30-day evaluation at any size; larger production use needs a subscription under the EE License.[1][2][3]

Sources and editorial review

Source research. Reviewed on October 12, 2026. Written by Sanjib Sah. AI assisted; reviewed by a human editor.

We have not run or tested this product.

  1. OpenWork on OpenAlternative (discovery lead)

    official · Observed October 12, 2026

    Discovery lead: official site openworklabs.com, repo different-ai/openwork, MIT license, 50+ LLM desktop app positioning.

  2. OpenWork - Your AI workspace without vendor lock-in

    official · Observed October 12, 2026

    Homepage: sovereign AI workspace, Claude Cowork/Codex alternative, free desktop app, MCP/AI gateways, Cloud app, Powered by OpenCode.

  3. different-ai/openwork on GitHub

    official · Observed October 12, 2026

    README: MIT desktop app, no account locally, Electron app, ee/ under EE License, powered by opencode.

  4. OpenWork root LICENSE

    official · Observed October 12, 2026

    Root LICENSE: MIT outside ee/; ee/ under EE License; pre-EE versions under FSL-1.1-MIT.

  5. OpenWork pricing

    official · Observed October 12, 2026

    Free $0/5 seats, Team $10/seat/mo with SSO, Enterprise custom with SCIM/audit, add-ons $50 and $10, self-host free bounds.

  6. OpenWork docs: get started

    official · Observed October 12, 2026

    Docs: suite overview, 4-step start, Homebrew/desktop downloads, Helm/Docker self-host, MCP one-command connect, npm collision warning.

  7. Migrate from Claude Cowork to OpenWork

    official · Observed October 12, 2026

    Migration guide: scan/plan/apply moves plugins/skills/connectors; history/credentials/non-GitHub plugins/tasks stay; Dispatch/live artifacts soon.

Compared with these products

No explicit proprietary baseline is recorded.

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