AnythingLLM vs Hermes WebUI
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
Private AI chat app for your documents, with agents, runs locally or with cloud models.
Open source · MIT
A browser-based chat interface for the Hermes Agent, usable from a desktop or phone.
The short answer
Choose AnythingLLM if you need…
- People who want a private ChatGPT-style assistant over their own PDFs and text files
- Teams that need several users with separate access on one instance (Docker version)
- Developers who want to try many LLM providers from one interface
- Anyone who wants to run local models on their own CPU or GPU without much setup
Choose Hermes WebUI if you need…
- People who already run Hermes Agent and want a browser or phone interface
- Developers who want a three-panel chat view with workspace file browsing
- Self-hosters on a VM or homelab who want a daemon-style setup via ctl.sh
Side-by-side
| AnythingLLM | Hermes WebUI | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 67.8k | 19.4k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Download the app | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | JavaScript | Python |
| Last code update | 6 days ago | 4 days ago |
What each one is
AnythingLLM
AnythingLLM is an all-in-one AI application that lets you chat with your own documents and use AI agents. You can connect a local model that runs on your own computer or a cloud model from a provider such as OpenAI or Anthropic. The README says it includes built-in agents, multi-user support, vector databases, and document pipelines, and is available as a desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Hermes WebUI
Hermes WebUI is a lightweight, dark-themed web interface that lets you use Hermes Agent from your browser instead of a terminal. The README says it aims for near 1:1 parity with the Hermes CLI and is built with Python and plain JavaScript, with no build step. You can reach it on a server through an SSH tunnel, and it uses your existing Hermes setup and models.
Best for
AnythingLLM
- People who want a private ChatGPT-style assistant over their own PDFs and text files
- Teams that need several users with separate access on one instance (Docker version)
- Developers who want to try many LLM providers from one interface
- Anyone who wants to run local models on their own CPU or GPU without much setup
Hermes WebUI
- People who already run Hermes Agent and want a browser or phone interface
- Developers who want a three-panel chat view with workspace file browsing
- Self-hosters on a VM or homelab who want a daemon-style setup via ctl.sh
Strengths
AnythingLLM
- Works with many LLM providers, both local and cloud, as listed in the README
- Desktop installers are provided for Mac, Windows, and Linux
- Released under the MIT license with a large community on GitHub
Hermes WebUI
- Uses your existing Hermes agent and models without extra setup, according to the README
- Simple stack with no build step, framework, or bundler
- Supports secure remote access through an SSH tunnel
Not ideal for
AnythingLLM
- People who only want a simple hosted chatbot and do not want to install or manage anything; a hosted instance exists but is a paid option
- Users needing multi-user permissions or the embeddable website widget, which the README marks as Docker version only
- Anyone expecting a guaranteed result from local models, since output quality depends on the model you choose
Hermes WebUI
- People who do not have Hermes Agent installed, since WebUI depends on it
- Anyone wanting a standalone chat app with no server to run, because it runs on your own host
- Users who need chat routed through an external API server by default, since the README says chat runs in-process unless you configure otherwise
Trade-offs
AnythingLLM
- Several features, including multi-user support and the website widget, are limited to the Docker version
- The README is long and lists many options, so setup choices take some reading
- Local model performance depends on your hardware and the model you pick
Hermes WebUI
- The README describes several configuration paths (Gateway, custom providers, Tailscale) that add complexity
- Chat routing and some features are described as partial or still being tracked in issues
- Requires a running Hermes installation and a server you control
Getting started
Hermes WebUI
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/nesquena/hermes-webui.git hermes-webuiEnter the project folder
cd hermes-webuiFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between AnythingLLM and Hermes WebUI?
AnythingLLM: Private AI chat app for your documents, with agents, runs locally or with cloud models. Hermes WebUI: A browser-based chat interface for the Hermes Agent, usable from a desktop or phone. AnythingLLM suits people who want a private chatgpt-style assistant over their own pdfs and text files, while Hermes WebUI suits people who already run hermes agent and want a browser or phone interface.
Are AnythingLLM and Hermes WebUI free?
AnythingLLM: Free and open source. Hermes WebUI: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, AnythingLLM or Hermes WebUI?
AnythingLLM is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Hermes WebUI is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is AnythingLLM or Hermes WebUI more popular?
AnythingLLM has more GitHub stars (67.8k) than Hermes WebUI (19.4k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to AnythingLLM and Hermes WebUI?
Other options people compare them with include Vane, LlamaGPT, serviette, Paperclip, Octop.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.