Zola
What is Zola
Zola is a free, open-source AI chat application that supports multiple AI models, designed for developers looking for an alternative to ChatGPT.
Use cases
Use cases for Zola include creating chatbots for customer service, developing interactive educational tools, and integrating AI chat capabilities into applications for enhanced user engagement.
How to use
To use Zola, visit the official website at zola.chat and follow the installation instructions provided in INSTALL.md. Users can chat with AI models and utilize features like prompt suggestions and file uploads.
Key features
Key features of Zola include multi-model support (OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Gemini, etc.), light and dark mode, prompt suggestions, file uploads, a mobile-friendly layout, and upcoming AI agents.
Where to use
Zola can be used in various fields such as software development, customer support, education, and any area where AI-driven chat interactions are beneficial.
Clients Supporting MCP
The following are the main client software that supports the Model Context Protocol. Click the link to visit the official website for more information.
Overview
What is Zola
Zola is a free, open-source AI chat application that supports multiple AI models, designed for developers looking for an alternative to ChatGPT.
Use cases
Use cases for Zola include creating chatbots for customer service, developing interactive educational tools, and integrating AI chat capabilities into applications for enhanced user engagement.
How to use
To use Zola, visit the official website at zola.chat and follow the installation instructions provided in INSTALL.md. Users can chat with AI models and utilize features like prompt suggestions and file uploads.
Key features
Key features of Zola include multi-model support (OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Gemini, etc.), light and dark mode, prompt suggestions, file uploads, a mobile-friendly layout, and upcoming AI agents.
Where to use
Zola can be used in various fields such as software development, customer support, education, and any area where AI-driven chat interactions are beneficial.
Clients Supporting MCP
The following are the main client software that supports the Model Context Protocol. Click the link to visit the official website for more information.
Content
Zola
Zola is the open-source chat interface for all your models.
Features
- Multi-model support: OpenAI, Mistral, Claude, Gemini, Ollama (local models)
- Bring your own API key (BYOK) support via OpenRouter
- File uploads
- Clean, responsive UI with light/dark themes
- Built with Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui, and prompt-kit
- Open-source and self-hostable
- Customizable: user system prompt, multiple layout options
- Local AI with Ollama: Run models locally with automatic model detection
- Full MCP support (wip)
Quick Start
Option 1: With OpenAI (Cloud)
git clone https://github.com/ibelick/zola.git
cd zola
npm install
echo "OPENAI_API_KEY=your-key" > .env.local
npm run dev
Option 2: With Ollama (Local)
# Install and start Ollama
curl -fsSL https://ollama.ai/install.sh | sh
ollama pull llama3.2 # or any model you prefer
# Clone and run Zola
git clone https://github.com/ibelick/zola.git
cd zola
npm install
npm run dev
Zola will automatically detect your local Ollama models!
Option 3: Docker with Ollama
git clone https://github.com/ibelick/zola.git
cd zola
docker-compose -f docker-compose.ollama.yml up
To unlock features like auth, file uploads, see INSTALL.md.
Built with
- prompt-kit — AI components
- shadcn/ui — core components
- motion-primitives — animated components
- vercel ai sdk — model integration, AI features
- supabase — auth and storage
Sponsors
License
Apache License 2.0
Notes
This is a beta release. The codebase is evolving and may change.
DevTools Supporting MCP
The following are the main code editors that support the Model Context Protocol. Click the link to visit the official website for more information.
