Big-AGI
by Big-AGI
What Big-AGI is
Big-AGI is a local-first AI workspace for comparing model responses, refining ideas, and supporting decisions. It connects to more than 800 models across more than 30 providers, with users supplying their own provider API keys and paying providers directly at standard rates. Big-AGI says it adds no markup or charge for model usage. Beam can run 2 to 24 models in parallel during a chat, stream their replies, and merge responses using several methods or a custom prompt. Personas can hold instructions, documents and images, memory, model settings, chat reinforcements, custom merges, and voice. The interface offers controls for effort, temperature, verbosity, reasoning budget, search, and tools. AI Inspector displays request details, including model, parameters, tokens, and cost. Conversations and preferences stay in browser storage by default, but cloud sync or external AI services use data beyond the device. Big-AGI is MIT-licensed open-source software and can be self-hosted. Hosted Free is available; Pro costs $9 per month and adds cloud backup, multi-device sync, builder email support, and priority access to new features.
Who it suits
Big-AGI suits people who want to compare and combine outputs from multiple AI models, with control over prompts and model settings. It also fits users who want browser-local storage by default or the option to self-host.
What it does well
- Connects to 800+ models across 30+ providers.
- Beam runs 2 to 24 models in parallel.
- AI Inspector shows outgoing request details, tokens, and cost.
- MIT-licensed and available for self-hosting.
- Hosted Free plan is available.
What to know first
- Users provide their own provider API keys.
- Model usage is paid directly to providers.
- Shared conversations are public to anyone with the link and expire after 90 days by default.
- No mobile apps are listed.
Limits
The hosted Free plan costs 0.00 USD and does not include the Pro additions of cloud backup, multi-device sync, builder email support, or priority access to new features. Big-AGI usage still requires users to pay standard provider rates directly; shared conversation links are public and expire after 90 days by default.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | billed monthly · Advanced multi-model · Advanced personas · Advanced UI · Hosted by Big-AGI | Free |
| Pro | billed monthly · Cloud backup of personas and chats · Multi-device sync · Email support from the builder · Priority access to new features | $9 a month |
| Big-AGI Open | open-source MIT · self-hosted · deploy on your infrastructure | Free |
| Big-AGI Free | /month · advanced multi-model · advanced personas · advanced UI · hosted by Big-AGI · BYO API keys | Free |
| Big-AGI Pro | billed $108/year · cloud backup of personas and chats · multi-device sync · builder email support · priority access to new features · BYO API keys | $9 a month |
| Business | custom deployments · team management · SLA guarantees | On request |
As big-agi.com lists them, read 21 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open Big-AGI on the web or install it on Linux, macOS, or Windows
- Choose the hosted Free or Pro plan, or deploy Big-AGI Open on your infrastructure
- Connect provider API keys from a supported service
- Create a persona or start a chat
- Use Beam to run multiple models and Merge to combine replies
Verdict
Big-AGI offers broad model access, parallel comparison, and detailed controls, while keeping provider usage costs separate from its plan price. Its local-first default changes when cloud sync or external AI services are used, so users should consider how they want data handled.
Questions
Is Big-AGI free?
Yes. The hosted Free plan is 0.00 USD, and Big-AGI Open is free, MIT-licensed, and self-hosted. Pro costs $9 a month.
How are model charges handled?
Users connect their own provider API keys and pay provider rates directly. Big-AGI says it adds no markup and does not charge for model usage.
Which platforms are supported?
Big-AGI supports Linux, macOS, Windows, web, and self-hosted deployments. It has no mobile apps.
Can Big-AGI be self-hosted?
Yes. Big-AGI is open source under the MIT License, and self-hosting gives the operator zero-access control over data.
What does Pro add?
The 9.00 USD monthly Pro plan adds cloud backup of personas and chats, multi-device sync, builder email support, and priority access to new features.
Are shared conversations private?
No. Shared conversations are accessible to anyone with the link and expire after 90 days by default unless extended.
Facts from Big-AGI's own pages
- Beam
- Beam runs 2 to 24 models in parallel during a chat and streams their responses live. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- BYOK
- Users connect their own provider API keys, and Big-AGI says it does not charge for model usage or limit access. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- cloud security
- Optional cloud-synced data is encrypted in transit with TLS 1.2 or higher and at rest in Supabase PostgreSQL, with database-level row security. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- File uploads
- Yes · big-agi.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · big-agi.com, 21 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- San Diego, California · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Image generation
- Yes · big-agi.com, 21 Sept 2026
- integrations
- Supported services include Alibaba Cloud, Anthropic, Azure OpenAI, DeepSeek, Google Gemini, Mistral, Moonshot AI, NVIDIA, OpenAI, SpaceXAI, OpenRouter, Perplexity, LocalAI, LM Studio, and Ollama. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- local privacy
- Conversations, personas, and preferences are stored in browser IndexedDB and localStorage by default and do not leave the device unless cloud sync or external AI services are used. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Merge
- Beam's Merge combines replies from multiple models into one answer using Fuse, Guided, Compare, or a custom merge prompt. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Mobile apps
- No · big-agi.com, 21 Sept 2026
- model controls
- The interface exposes effort, temperature, verbosity, reasoning budget, search, and tool controls per request and per persona. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- model coverage
- Big-AGI connects to 800+ models across 30+ providers. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- personas
- Personas can include instructions, attached documents and images, memory, a fixed model, parameters, chat reinforcements, custom merges, and voice. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- product
- Big-AGI is a local-first, multi-model AI workspace for comparing outputs, refining thinking, and making decisions. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- provider costs
- Users pay standard provider rates directly, while Big-AGI says it adds no markup on model usage. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- self-hosting
- Big-AGI is open source under the MIT License, and self-hosting gives the operator zero-access control over the data. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- shared-content limit
- Shared conversations are publicly accessible to anyone with the link and expire after 90 days by default unless extended. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Paid from
- 9 · big-agi.com, 21 Sept 2026
- support
- Documentation, GitHub issue reporting, and Discord support are available, while founder email support is a Pro benefit. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Team workspace
- Yes · big-agi.com, 21 Sept 2026
- transparency
- AI Inspector shows the exact request leaving the browser, including model, parameters, tokens, and cost. · big-agi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Web search
- Yes · big-agi.com, 21 Sept 2026
Where Big-AGI stands on Freedom251
- Byok System#3 of 24
- AI chatbots and assistants#25 of 65