The free, open-source alternative to Claude Cowork
Any model, your own keys, files that stay on your machine. Free for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
No account needed.
OpenWork vs Claude Cowork
| Feature | OpenWork | Claude Cowork |
|---|---|---|
| Free and open source | Yes | No |
| Linux | Yes | No |
| Any model, 50+ providers | Yes | Claude only |
| Local models | Yes | No |
| Your own API keys | Yes | On 3P |
| Skills, plugins, MCP | Yes | Yes |
| Share skills with your team | Yes | Team plans |
| Self-host | Yes | No |
Sources:Claude Team planClaude Enterprise pricingClaude Desktop on 3P
Cost calculator
What will it cost?
Claude Enterprise
$2,525
per month
OpenWork Team
$718
per month
OpenWork saves $21,678 a year
- Claude TeamWithin plan limits$1,000
- Claude Enterprise$2,525
- Claude on 3P$1,525
- OpenWork Team$718
- OpenWork Enterprise$2,218
Tokens outweigh seats, so the model you pick moves the total more than the plan.
How we calculate
- Tokens per person = input × (uncached × input price + cached × cache price) + output × output price. Presets assume 5M, 25M, or 100M input tokens a month, 70% cached.
- Claude Team: $20/seat annual, up to 150 seats. Enterprise: $20/seat, 20 minimum, plus tokens. 3P: tokens only.
- OpenWork Team: $10/seat plus tokens. Enterprise: $40/user annual, volume pricing above 250.
- List prices from models.dev (2026-09-26); Anthropic plans checked 2026-09-25. Committed-spend discounts are not included.
- Claude Team planClaude Enterprise pricingClaude Desktop on third-party platformsOpenWork pricingModel prices from models.dev
Why people switch
Run local models with Ollama or LM Studio
Bring your own key or AI gateway
One app for macOS, Windows, and Linux
Share skills and MCP servers with everyone
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a free alternative to Claude Cowork?
- Yes. OpenWork is a free, open-source desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
- Does OpenWork work with local models?
- Yes. Use Ollama, LM Studio, or any OpenAI-compatible server, and nothing leaves your computer.
- Can I use my own API key or AI gateway?
- Yes. Connect keys from 50+ providers, or add your company's OpenAI-compatible gateway as a custom provider.
- Can I still use Claude models?
- Yes. Add an Anthropic key and switch to any other model at any time.
- Do my files stay on my computer?
- Yes. In desktop mode files stay local and prompts go straight to the provider you pick.
- How do I migrate from Claude Cowork?
- Open the same folder in OpenWork and connect a model; SKILL.md skills, plugins, and MCP servers use the same formats. The migration guide covers each step.
Bring your Cowork setup with you.
Skills, plugins, and MCP servers carry over.
macOS, Windows, and Linux.