Freedom251 › AI chatbots and assistants
Khoj
by Khoj
What Khoj is
Khoj is a personal AI for asking questions across your files and information from the public internet. It offers natural-language and incremental search, along with chat using online or offline AI models. It can work with PDFs, plaintext, Markdown, org-mode, Word, and Notion files. Interfaces include its web and desktop apps, Emacs, Obsidian, and WhatsApp.
You can configure agents with custom system prompts; server hosts can make agents available to all users. Khoj can also run scheduled queries and email the results as research, newsletters, or news summaries. For data tasks, it can generate and run simple Python code to create analysis, plots, and reports. Khoj remains open source and can be self-hosted on your own hardware. Its maker says self-hosting can keep data on your device, and that Khoj does not sell data or use it to train models. Khoj Cloud closed on April 15, 2026. The free Self-hosted plan is available to run on your own hardware.
Who it suits
Khoj suits people who want to search and chat across personal documents and public internet information, using online or offline AI models. It may also fit users who want scheduled research emails, configurable agents, or simple Python-based data work and are prepared to self-host.
What it does well
- Searches and chats across files and public internet information.
- Works with PDF, plaintext, Markdown, org-mode, Word, and Notion files.
- Supports web, desktop, Emacs, Obsidian, and WhatsApp interfaces.
- Can schedule queries and email research or summaries.
- Can generate and run simple Python for analysis, plots, and reports.
- Open source, with a free self-hosted plan.
What to know first
- No mobile apps are available.
- Khoj Cloud closed on April 15, 2026.
- Self-hosted email automation requires Resend and authentication setup.
- OpenAI models may receive relevant indexed data as chat context.
Limits
The Self-hosted plan costs nothing and requires running the software on your own hardware. Self-hosted users must configure Resend and authentication to send automation emails.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Open-source software · run on your own hardware | Free |
As khoj.dev lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://khoj.dev/.
- Choose the free Self-hosted plan and run the open-source software on your own hardware.
- Use the web or desktop app, or connect through Emacs, Obsidian, or WhatsApp.
- Add supported documents such as PDFs, Markdown, Word, or Notion files.
- Configure Resend and authentication if you want self-hosted automation emails.
Verdict
Choose Khoj if you want an open-source personal AI that searches your documents and public information, with self-hosting and scheduled research emails. Look elsewhere if you need a mobile app or a hosted Khoj Cloud service.
Questions
How much does Khoj cost?
The Self-hosted plan is free. The pricing model is free.
Is Khoj open source?
Yes. Khoj remains open source and can be self-hosted.
Which platforms can I use?
Khoj supports Linux, macOS, Windows, self-hosted use, and the web. It also documents interfaces for its desktop app, Emacs, Obsidian, and WhatsApp; it has no mobile apps.
What kinds of files can Khoj use?
It can work with PDF, plaintext, Markdown, org-mode, Word, and Notion files.
Is Khoj Cloud available?
No. Khoj Cloud shut down on April 15, 2026.
What happens to my data when using an OpenAI model?
Khoj’s privacy page says relevant indexed data may be sent to OpenAI as chat context when you use an OpenAI model.
Facts from Khoj's own pages
- Automations
- Khoj can run scheduled queries and email the resulting research, including custom newsletters and news summaries. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Cloud service
- Khoj Cloud was shut down on April 15, 2026; Khoj remains open source and can still be self-hosted. · app.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Code execution
- Khoj can generate and run simple Python code for tasks such as data analysis, plots, and reports. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Company
- The maker identifies itself as Khoj Inc.; its site describes the team as building applied AI software. · khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Custom agents
- Users can configure agents with custom system prompts, and server hosts can make agents available to all users. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Documents
- Khoj can work with PDF, plaintext, Markdown, org-mode, Word, and Notion files. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- External model data
- The privacy page says relevant indexed data may be sent as chat context to OpenAI when using an OpenAI model. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- File uploads
- Yes · docs.khoj.dev, 21 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2021 · khoj.dev, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · docs.khoj.dev, 21 Sept 2026
- Image generation
- Yes · docs.khoj.dev, 21 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Documented interfaces include the web app, desktop app, Emacs, Obsidian, and WhatsApp. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Mobile apps
- No · docs.khoj.dev, 21 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- Self-hosting can keep data on the user's device, and the privacy page says Khoj does not sell data or use it to train models. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Search and chat
- Khoj supports natural-language search, incremental search, and chat with online or offline AI models. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Self-hosted email setup
- Self-hosted users need to configure Resend and authentication for Khoj to send automation emails. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Telemetry
- Khoj says it collects anonymized usage telemetry, does not log IP addresses or upload personal data to PostHog, and lets self-hosters opt out. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
- Web search
- Yes · docs.khoj.dev, 21 Sept 2026
- What it does
- Khoj is a personal AI that answers questions using shared files and information from the public internet. · docs.khoj.dev, 11 Oct 2026
Where Khoj stands on Freedom251
- AI chatbots and assistants#18 of 65