Guide
A private ChatGPT alternative on your own hardware.
Give your team a modern AI assistant that keeps every prompt and document inside your building. No cloud, no per-token bill, no lock-in.
Runs locally · GDPR-compliant · No cloud lock-in
The short version
Cloud AI, without the cloud
Cloud assistants send every prompt to someone else's servers. A private alternative keeps that work on a machine you own. This guide answers the questions businesses ask before making the switch.
A private ChatGPT alternative is an AI assistant that runs on hardware you own instead of a provider's cloud. Your prompts and documents stay on your own server, so the data never leaves the building, there is no per-token cost, and you keep full control while still getting a modern assistant. Ara OS is the operating system built for exactly this: it turns hardware you already own into a local assistant for your team.
What is a private ChatGPT alternative?
A private ChatGPT alternative is an AI assistant that runs on hardware you own instead of a provider's cloud. Your prompts and documents stay on your own server, so the data never leaves the building, there is no per-token cost, and you keep full control while still getting a modern assistant.
Can I run a private ChatGPT alternative on my own hardware?
Yes. Ara OS is an operating system for private AI that installs on hardware you already own, typically an NVIDIA box such as the DGX Spark or DGX Station, or another ARM machine. The models compute directly on the device, so no prompt or document is ever sent outside. You install it with a single command and finish the setup in your browser, or a partner sets it up for you on site.
What is the best on-premise ChatGPT alternative for a business?
For small and mid-sized companies that handle sensitive data, the best on-premise option is one that stays fully local and still feels like a modern assistant. Ara OS does that: AI agents for fixed tasks, workflow automation and search across your own contracts and manuals, all running on your own server. Because nothing leaves the building, it meets GDPR requirements without extra measures. Law firms, medical practices, tax advisors and engineering offices are typical users.
Which open-source models can replace ChatGPT?
Through Ollama you can load any compatible open-source model, for example Llama, Mistral, Qwen or Gemma. For everyday business tasks like drafting, summarizing, answering questions about your documents and sorting email, these reach roughly 90 to 95 percent of commercial quality. When a job genuinely needs a frontier model, you can add an external cloud model on demand while the local model stays the default.
How much does a local AI setup cost?
Two costs sit side by side: the hardware and the Ara OS licence. An NVIDIA DGX Spark runs around 5,200 euros net if you order it through us, shipping included, and you can also source the device yourself. Ara OS itself is a one-time licence with an optional yearly maintenance package for updates and security. There is no subscription and no cost per request, because the models run on your own device. Concrete licence prices come through the signed-in area or your partner.
Is a self-hosted AI as good as ChatGPT?
For typical business work, yes, close enough that most teams do not notice a gap. Open-source models on Ara OS handle drafting, summaries, document questions and routine automation at about 90 to 95 percent of commercial quality, and they answer without an internet connection. You trade the very top end of raw capability for privacy, predictable cost and full control, and you can still call an external cloud model for the rare task that needs it.
How do I get started?
Two paths lead to the same place. If you want to run the AI in your own company, read Ara OS for business to see what a setup looks like and how to get going, yourself or with a partner who installs it on site. If you first want proof it fits your work, the use cases walk through concrete examples like reading invoices, preparing quotes and searching contracts. For the full picture, start on the Ara OS home page.
Bring private AI into your company.
Local, GDPR-compliant, no cloud lock-in. See what Ara OS does for your business or browse the use cases.
Runs locally · GDPR-compliant · No cloud lock-in