Open-source Claude Cowork alternative — self-hosted, any model
OpenWorkBuddy is an open-source, local-first alternative to Claude Cowork: a desktop AI agent that turns a request into real PPTX, DOCX, XLSX and HTML files, with DeepSeek, Qwen, Claude or a local model.
The short version
Claude Cowork is Anthropic's agent for knowledge work inside the Claude desktop app.
People look for an alternative when they want to choose the model themselves, keep everything on their own machine or server, read the source, or pay per token instead of per seat.
OpenWorkBuddy covers the same loop — plan, act on files, check the result — and can even run Claude Code as its engine if you already use Claude.
What you get with OpenWorkBuddy
Real files on your disk
PPTX, DOCX, XLSX and HTML are written to your own folder. If the agent claims a file it didn't write, the run is stopped and redone.
Bring your own model
DeepSeek, Qwen (DashScope), Doubao (Volcengine Ark), GLM, Kimi, OpenAI, Claude, OpenRouter or a local Ollama model — switch in the settings, per task.
Runs on your machine
Sessions, files and keys stay local. The server listens on 127.0.0.1 by default; put it on your own server when a team needs it.
Uses Claude Code or Codex as an engine
Already have the Claude Code or Codex CLI installed? Pick it as the engine and keep your existing plan.
Skills are Markdown files
36 built-in skills, 43 tools, 52 connectors, MCP. Adding a skill means dropping a skill.md into a folder — no rebuild.
Desktop, web and command line
An Electron app, a browser UI and an openworkbuddy CLI share the same sessions. Scheduled tasks and chat bots (Feishu, QQ, WeChat; DingTalk, Telegram and Slack through a webhook) can drive it too.
When to stay with Claude Cowork
You want Anthropic's hosted product, their integrations and support, and you're happy with Claude as the only model.
Try it in three minutes
Download the installer, or clone the repo and run npm install && npm start. Add one model key in the setup wizard and ask for your first file.
Other comparisons
- Codex alternative for office work — open-source AI agent that makes files
- Open-source WorkBuddy alternative — local AI office agent
- Doubao office alternative — open-source, runs Doubao models locally
- Qwen office alternative — open-source agent that runs Qwen models
- DeepSeek agent harness — open-source AI agent that runs on DeepSeek