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?
Is OpenWork really no-code?
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?
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.