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Elvean vs Jan

Two fact sheets from our own research, side by side — pricing, platforms, API access and status re-checked by us rather than quoted from the vendors.

The short answer

Free plan
Both — Elvean has a free plan, Jan is free to use
Public API
Jan has one; not confirmed by us for Elvean
Higher Trust score
Jan — 91 vs 73 for Elvean
Best fit
Elvean: Mac users who bounce between several AI chat providers daily · Jan: Privacy-focused users who want an offline ChatGPT-style app
Platforms
Elvean: macOS · Jan: macOS, Windows, Linux

From our own records as of each tool's last check. Anything we have not confirmed is left out rather than guessed. How we verify

ElveanA native Mac app for chatting with 300+ AI models in one workspace, with local models supported free.JanOpen-source desktop chat app that runs open models offline or connects to cloud providers, plus a terminal coding agent.

Side by side

FactElveanJan
CategoryMulti-model Chat AggregatorsModel Hosting & Inference
Pricing modelFreemiumFree
Starts at$4.99/mo—
Public APINot confirmedYes
Trust score73 / 10091 / 100
PlatformsmacOSmacOS, Windows, Linux, API
CompanyElveanMenlo Research Pte. Ltd.
Launched—2023
Last verifiedSep 1, 2026Oct 2, 2026

What our research says

Elvean

Elvean's pitch is one native Mac app instead of a dozen browser tabs for different AI providers, and the SwiftUI build shows in fast, native-feeling charts and tables inside chat. The free tier is real, not a trial, but the useful cloud-model breadth sits behind the Pro subscription and the app is Mac-only.

Pros

  • Free tier genuinely works with local models, not just a trial
  • Interactive charts, sortable tables, and maps render inline instead of as static text
  • Threaded conversations let a side question branch off without derailing the main chat

Cons

  • Mac-only, so it is useless on Windows, Linux, or mobile
  • Full 300+ model access requires the Pro subscription
  • No web or team-sharing option for the workspace

Jan

A friendly, fully free way to chat with open models offline and keep cloud providers one click away in the same app. It suits people who want privacy and zero subscription cost more than the polish of a hosted assistant. The new Jan Agent is explicitly preview quality, so do not rely on it for daily coding yet.

Pros

  • Free and Apache 2.0 licensed, with active public development
  • Local models run offline with no account or API key
  • Works with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq and compatible endpoints
  • Built-in local API server and MCP support

Cons

  • Local model quality and speed depend entirely on your hardware
  • The memory feature is shown as coming soon
  • Jan Agent is in preview with expected rough edges

Which one fits

Choose Elvean if you need

  • Mac users who bounce between several AI chat providers daily
  • People who want to run local Ollama models with no subscription at all
  • Anyone who wants calendar, weather, and Maps data pulled into a chat

Choose Jan if you need

  • Privacy-focused users who want an offline ChatGPT-style app
  • Developers who want local and cloud models behind one interface and a local API

Elvean vs Jan: the questions people ask

Is Elvean cheaper than Jan?

Jan is free to use; Elvean starts at $4.99/mo.

Does Elvean or Jan have a free tier?

Both: Elvean has a free tier, and Jan is free to use.

Which has a public API, Elvean or Jan?

Jan ships a public API, as of our last verification. A public API for Elvean is not confirmed by us — check its developer docs before you plan an integration.

More comparisons

All Jan alternatives →Browse all Multi-model Chat Aggregators →