Chatbox — Cross-Platform AI Chat Desktop Client

Introduction

Chatbox is a cross-platform desktop AI client that connects to OpenAI, Azure, Claude, Gemini, Ollama, and other LLM providers through a single polished interface. It stores conversations locally and offers power-user features like prompt templates, conversation branching, and token usage tracking.

What Chatbox Does

• Connects to 10+ AI providers via their APIs with a unified chat interface
• Manages multiple conversations with full local history and search
• Provides a built-in prompt library for reusable system instructions
• Tracks token usage and estimated costs per conversation
• Supports image input for multimodal models and Markdown rendering

Architecture Overview

Chatbox is built with Electron and React, packaging a web-based UI into native desktop binaries for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Conversations and settings are stored in local SQLite. API calls are made directly from the client to provider endpoints with no intermediary server.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Download pre-built binaries from GitHub Releases or build from source with Node.js 18+
• Configure API keys per provider in the Settings panel
• Set custom API endpoints for Azure OpenAI or self-hosted compatible servers
• Data is stored locally in the app data directory; no cloud sync by default
• Proxy support available via system proxy or manual HTTP proxy configuration

Key Features

• Multi-provider support: OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Ollama, LM Studio, Azure, and more
• Full conversation history with local storage and export to Markdown/JSON
• Custom prompt templates with variables for repeatable workflows
• Token counter and cost estimator for budget-conscious usage
• Clean native UI with dark mode, font customization, and keyboard shortcuts

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Open WebUI — web-based, requires server deployment; Chatbox is a native desktop app
• LobeChat — browser-first with plugin ecosystem; Chatbox focuses on simplicity and privacy
• Jan — emphasizes local models; Chatbox is API-first with broader provider support
• ChatGPT official app — locked to OpenAI; Chatbox works with any compatible API
• big-AGI — developer-focused web UI; Chatbox offers a more polished desktop experience

FAQ

Q: Is my data sent to any server besides the AI provider? A: No. Chatbox communicates directly with your configured AI provider. No telemetry or data collection.

Q: Can I use Chatbox with local models? A: Yes, point it at Ollama, LM Studio, or any OpenAI-compatible local endpoint.

Q: Is there a mobile version? A: Chatbox focuses on desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux). A web version is available but self-hosted.

Q: How do I export my conversations? A: Use the export function to save as Markdown, JSON, or plain text from any conversation.

Sources

• https://github.com/Bin-Huang/chatbox
• https://chatboxai.app