33K stars for a ChatGPT clone you can actually own

What it does Chatbot UI is a Next.js app that gives you a familiar chat interface for talking to OpenAI, Azure, or local Ollama models. Version 2.0 replaced browser localStorage with a proper Supabase backend—Postgres, auth, file storage—so your conversations survive incognito mode and you can run multi-modal workflows that need actual persistence.

The interesting bit The README is essentially a DevOps cookbook. The author doesn’t hide that self-hosting is involved: Docker for local Supabase, SQL migration edits for service_role keys, separate repos for local vs. hosted instances. It’s refreshingly honest about the trade-off—give up zero-config for actual data ownership.

Key highlights

• Supports OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, and local Ollama models via env vars
• Supabase backend: Postgres DB, auth, and storage instead of browser localStorage
• One-command update path: npm run update plus npm run db-push for hosted instances
• Official hosted version at chatbotui.com if you want to skip the infrastructure
• Legacy v1.0 code preserved on a legacy branch

Caveats

• Setup is nontrivial: Docker, Supabase CLI, manual SQL edits, and multiple env vars required
• Author acknowledges a “big update” is incoming for simpler deployment and better mobile layouts; current version may be in flux
• Issue tracker is aggressively filtered—setup questions get redirected to Discussions

Verdict Worth a look if you want a ChatGPT-like experience with model flexibility and don’t mind owning the stack. Skip it if you’re after a one-click install or a polished mobile app today.