Text Generation WebUI

A desktop app for running local language models, now called TextGen, with chat and character modes, vision, file attachments and an OpenAI-compatible API.

47.7k stars, 6k forks Python On GitHub since December 2022

View on GitHub How to run it

What is Text Generation WebUI?

TextGen, long known as text-generation-webui, is a classic among local LLM front ends. Portable builds for Linux, Windows and macOS include everything needed for GGUF models through llama.cpp, with CUDA, Vulkan, ROCm or CPU-only variants; a full install adds backends like ExLlamaV3 and Transformers, training and extensions. It offers instruction-following chat, chat with custom characters, vision, file uploads, web search, tool calling and an API that other apps can use.

Good fit if

  • You want many model backends and fine control over generation settings.
  • You use character chat, load LoRA adapters or train models locally.
  • You prefer a portable app that unzips and runs.

Look elsewhere if

  • You want a simpler desktop chat app: Jan.
  • You want regular updates: the main branch has been quiet since August 2026.

Before you adopt it

TextGen is AGPL-3.0, and all of it is free. It is essentially one developer's project; the last release was in May 2026, so check recent activity before relying on it.

Drafted with AI from the project's README and repository data, then checked against that data on 30 October 2026. Report a correction

Text Generation WebUI health: is it still maintained?

26 of 100, actively developed

  • Activity
    1 commit in the last 90 days, the latest on 17 August 2026.
    4 / 30
  • Contributors
    1 person wrote the 1 commit of the last 90 days; the most active wrote 100% of them.
    2 / 20
  • Releases
    15 releases in the last 12 months; the latest, v4.9, on 20 May 2026.
    15 / 20
  • Replies to issues
    Maintainers answered 0% of recent issues.
    0 / 20
  • Security practices
    No OpenSSF Scorecard for this repository yet, so this part gets a neutral score.
    5 / 10

Read from GitHub on 1 November 2026. How the score works

Text Generation WebUI license: is it open source?

Text Generation WebUI uses AGPL-3.0, an open-source license approved by the OSI.

  1. December 2022First published on GitHub.
  2. TodayAGPL-3.0.

How to run Text Generation WebUI yourself

Docker
Dockerfile or compose file in the repository
Compose file
docker/amd/docker-compose.yml: 1 service
Setup effort
1 of 5, judged from the compose file
Kubernetes
No Helm chart in the repository
Desktop and mobile
Builds for macOS, Linux, Windows, including ARM in GitHub releases
Interface languages
English only

Install instructions: the README on GitHub.

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Questions about Text Generation WebUI

Is Text Generation WebUI open source?

Yes. Text Generation WebUI is published under AGPL-3.0, an OSI-approved open-source license.

Is Text Generation WebUI still maintained?

Its health score is 26 of 100 (actively developed). It had 1 commit in the last 90 days, the latest on 17 August 2026, and its latest release came out on 20 May 2026.

How do I run Text Generation WebUI?

You can run it with Docker, as an app for macOS, Linux, Windows, including ARM. The README on GitHub has the exact steps.

What are the alternatives to Text Generation WebUI?

Close alternatives in the AI chat & local LLMs category include Local Deep Research, LocalAI, PrivateGPT.