Free, open-source alternatives to Perplexity
AI search engine that answers with sources. 3 apps you can run yourself instead of Perplexity, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
VaneBest match
AI-powered search engine (alternative to Perplexity AI).
Local Deep Research
AI-powered deep research tool with multi-source search (arXiv, PubMed, web), PDF text extraction, and encrypted local storage.
Khoj
Your AI second brain. Get answers from the web or your docs. Build custom agents, schedule automations, do deep research. Turn any online or local LLM into your personal, autonomous AI.
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vane | 37,286 | MIT | Docker | |
| Local Deep Research | 9,187 | MIT | Docker, Python | |
| Khoj | 37,664 | AGPL-3.0 | Python, Docker |
Why replace Perplexity?
Perplexity works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Perplexity?
Vane is the closest open-source replacement for Perplexity in our list. Local Deep Research and Khoj are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Perplexity?
Yes. All 3 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.