ChatBox

Desktop and mobile chat client that runs on your own API keys or a hosted plan

AI Chat AssistantsFree planOverseas★★★★☆ 4.0

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What is ChatBox?

ChatBox is a cross-platform chat client rather than a model of its own. You install it on desktop or mobile, paste in an API key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Ollama or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint, and chat through a native interface that renders markdown and code properly. The vendor also sells a hosted service, Chatbox AI, for people who would rather not manage keys themselves. The differentiator is local-first storage: conversations, prompts and settings live on your device, so the app works as a private front end to whichever provider you already pay for.

Last updated: 2026-09-20. This site only provides an index; for exact features, pricing, and licensing, see the official website.

Key features

Supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Ollama and custom OpenAI-compatible endpoints
Native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the web
Conversations, prompts and attachments stored locally on your device
Image generation and vision input through supported providers
Prompt library, message quoting and markdown plus code rendering
Optional hosted Chatbox AI plan for use without your own API key

Pros & cons

Strengths

One clean client for several providers instead of many browser tabs
Local conversation storage keeps your history off vendor accounts
Generous free tier when you supply your own API key

Watch out for

You pay model costs directly through your provider account
Agentic and tool features are thinner than in dedicated coding tools
Some convenience features sit behind the paid hosted plan

Best for & use cases

multi-provider chat, local conversation history, mobile ai access, prompt libraries

If you're comparing similar products, check the alternatives below, or browse all tools in the AI Chat Assistants category.

FAQ

Does ChatBox include access to the models?

Not by default. You connect your own API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or a local server such as Ollama. The optional Chatbox AI subscription is the exception, bundling hosted access so you can chat without managing keys.

Where are my conversations stored?

Locally on your device. Chat history and prompts are kept in the app's own storage rather than a vendor account, though messages are still sent to whichever model provider you have configured.

Can it run models offline?

Yes, if you point it at a local runtime such as Ollama that hosts open-weight models on your own machine. Response quality then depends on your hardware and the size of model you can run.