What Is LobeHub?
LobeHub is an open-source platform for creating AI agents and running them as a team, formerly known as LobeChat. The GitHub description calls it a "Chief Agent Operator" that hires, schedules and reports on your agents; the website calls it an agent collaboration platform.
The original LobeChat was a self-hosted chat interface for many model providers. Today's README adds an Agent Builder, Agent Groups that work on a task in parallel, Pages for writing with several agents, scheduled runs, projects, shared workspaces and a Personal Memory feature. This review covers the product as published in the LobeHub repository; the LICENSE file there still uses the name LobeChat.
Get It
There are three ways to run LobeHub: install a desktop app, open the cloud service in a browser, or host it yourself. The desktop installers need no terminal.
Platform | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| macOS | GitHub Releases (.dmg for Apple silicon and for Intel) |
| Windows | GitHub Releases (setup .exe) |
| Linux | GitHub Releases (AppImage, .deb, .rpm and snap) |
| Web (cloud) | app.lobehub.com (LobeHub Cloud, account required) |
| Self-hosted | Self-hosting section of the README (Docker or one-click deploy) |
| Source code | lobehub/lobehub on GitHub (LobeHub Community License) |
| Website | lobehub.com |
| Privacy policy | lobehub.com/privacy (last updated 5 March 2026) |
Version reviewed: 2.2.20, published on GitHub Releases on 18 October 2026; the repository itself was updated on 24 October 2026, so there is no stale warning. Self-hosting needs a terminal, as described below.
Features
Agents are the unit of work in LobeHub; chat is only one way to talk to them. The list below comes from the README and the website.
- Agent Builder. Describe the agent once and the setup is configured for you.
- Agent Groups, Pages and Schedule. Several agents work on a task with shared context, write together on a page, or run at set times while you are away.
- Skills. The README cites a library of 10,000+ tools and MCP-compatible plugins.
- Models. Many providers sit behind one interface, so you can switch models inside the same conversation setup.
- Personal Memory and IM Gateway. Agents can learn from how you work and be reached in the chat apps you already use.
Self-Hosting
Self-hosting needs a terminal and Docker, or a cloud account for the one-click deploy. The README describes two routes.
- Docker. Create a folder, run the setup script from the README (`bash <(curl -fsSL https://lobe.li/setup.sh)`), then start the stack with `docker compose up -d`.
- One-click deploy. Buttons for Vercel, Zeabur, Sealos, RepoCloud and Alibaba Cloud; the README asks for an `OPENAI_API_KEY` in the environment variables.
Using Local Models
LobeHub lists Ollama as a provider and documents the setup. Install Ollama, then allow cross-origin requests by setting the `OLLAMA_ORIGINS` environment variable to `*` and restarting Ollama, and LobeHub can chat with the models Ollama serves.
That step comes from the documentation for the browser version. We did not test whether the desktop apps need it, or whether they work fully offline.
Plans and Pricing
LobeHub Cloud is freemium; the apps and the self-hosted server are free of charge under the license. Prices on the pricing page are in US dollars only; no local-currency prices were found.
Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500K credits a month, 100 MB vector storage |
| Starter | $12.9 a month ($9.9 billed yearly) | 5M credits, 1 GB files |
| Premium | $24.9 a month ($19.9 billed yearly) | 15M credits, 2 GB files |
| Ultimate | $49.9 a month ($39.9 billed yearly) | 35M credits, 4 GB files |
Enterprise pricing is by contact. The source says the figures reflect the marketing site and recommends checking in-app billing; model usage on a self-hosted server is billed by whichever provider you connect.
License
LobeHub uses the LobeHub Community License, which is based on Apache License 2.0 and is not plain MIT or Apache. Commercial use is allowed, including as a frontend and backend service without modifying the source code. Developing and distributing a derivative work requires a commercial license from LobeHub (contact hello@lobehub.com). Contributors also agree that their code may be used commercially, including in the cloud edition, and that the producer may change the license terms.
Who Should Use It
- People who want agents, schedules and shared memory in one workspace, not only a chat window.
- Users who want a double-click install on macOS, Windows or Linux and an optional cloud account.
- Self-hosters comfortable with Docker who want one interface for cloud and Ollama models.
What We Could Not Verify
- The apps in use. Installation, speed, stability and the desktop apps were not tested.
- Offline use. Whether the desktop apps work without an internet connection, or reach Ollama without the cross-origin step, is not stated in the sources we read.
- Cloud data handling. The privacy policy says chat logs are stored locally by default and sync to cloud servers if you turn on cloud sync, and that chat content is not used for model training in the mobile app; it does not address the desktop or self-hosted versions, and we did not audit any of this.
- Skill count. The 10,000+ figure is the README's claim.
Competitors and Alternatives
App | Platforms | Price / license | Key difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open WebUI | Web, desktop | Free / BSD 3-Clause | Self-hosted interface with built-in RAG, usually run with Ollama |
| LibreChat | Web | Free / MIT | Self-hosted multi-provider chat with team features |
| Big-AGI | Web | Free / MIT | Multi-provider front end with personas; you bring your own keys |
| Cherry Studio | Desktop | Free / AGPL 3.0 | Single-user desktop client with no server to run |
Competitor details change often; confirm each app's current price, license and platforms on its own page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LobeChat the same as LobeHub?
Yes. LobeHub is the current name of the project that was called LobeChat; the repository now lives at lobehub/lobehub and the older address redirects to it.
Can LobeHub run offline?
Unknown. Only the provider connection to a local Ollama server is documented, and offline use of the desktop apps was not tested.
Do I need an account?
For LobeHub Cloud, yes. The privacy policy lists an email address and name among the data it collects. Desktop apps and self-hosting were not checked for an account requirement.
Is the self-hosted version free?
Yes under the license, including commercial use as is; you pay only the model providers you connect.
Where do I report problems or ask for features?
The README points to the GitHub issues page and a Discord community.
Verdict
LobeHub has outgrown the chat front end it started as: it is now an agent workspace you can install, rent or host. Its release cadence, installers for three desktop systems and documented Ollama support are real strengths. The hybrid model, a cloud-first product and untested offline use mean readers who need strictly local operation should verify that on their own machine first.
Sources
- LobeHub website — product description, checked 24 October 2026.
- LobeHub pricing — plans, credits and storage, checked 24 October 2026.
- LobeHub on GitHub — README, LICENSE, releases (2.2.20) and repository activity, checked 24 October 2026.
- Using Ollama in LobeHub — provider setup, checked 24 October 2026.
- LobeHub privacy policy — data collected and storage; last updated 5 March 2026.