NextChat vs Taxonomy
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
Open-source chat app for talking to many AI models, with a web and desktop version.
Open source · MIT
An archived Next.js 13 demo app showing auth, subscriptions and docs with server components.
The short answer
Choose NextChat if you need…
- People who want one chat window for several AI models
- Developers who want a self-hosted chat front end for their own API keys
- Users who want local storage of chat data in the browser
- Teams interested in the README's enterprise edition for private deployment
Choose Taxonomy if you need…
- Developers learning the Next.js App Router and server components
- Students studying how authentication, a database and payments fit together in one app
- Developers who want a reference for combining Tailwind CSS and Radix UI components
Side-by-side
| NextChat | Taxonomy | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 88.9k | 19.3k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Advanced |
| How you get it | Use it in the browser (or self-host) | Clone and build from source |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 17 days ago | 7 months ago |
What each one is
NextChat
NextChat is a chat interface for AI language models such as GPT, Claude, Gemini and DeepSeek. You can use it in a browser as a web app, or install it as a desktop app on Windows, macOS and Linux. The README also describes self-hosting it, for example on Vercel, and connecting it to self-deployed models.
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is a sample web application built with Next.js 13 to explore the new App Router and server components. It includes features common to real apps, such as login, Stripe subscriptions, API routes, and a docs and blog section. The author has archived it, so it is best read as a reference or learning example rather than a maintained product.
Best for
NextChat
- People who want one chat window for several AI models
- Developers who want a self-hosted chat front end for their own API keys
- Users who want local storage of chat data in the browser
- Teams interested in the README's enterprise edition for private deployment
Taxonomy
- Developers learning the Next.js App Router and server components
- Students studying how authentication, a database and payments fit together in one app
- Developers who want a reference for combining Tailwind CSS and Radix UI components
Strengths
NextChat
- Runs on web, Windows, macOS, Linux and iOS according to the README
- Stores data locally in the browser, per the README's privacy note
- Open source under the MIT license with a large community
Taxonomy
- Covers many real-world app features in one codebase
- Uses popular open-source tools such as Prisma, NextAuth.js and Tailwind CSS
- Released under the permissive MIT license
Not ideal for
NextChat
- People who want a fully offline assistant, since the README centers on connecting to hosted or self-deployed model services
- Users who need the iOS app's source code, since the README says it is coming soon
- Anyone expecting a guaranteed no-cost service, since the README mentions pay-as-you-go and a sponsor platform
Taxonomy
- Anyone who needs a production app, because the README says it is not recommended for production and may use deprecated APIs
- Teams who want ongoing updates, because the project is officially archived and will not receive updates
- Beginners who have never used React or Next.js, because the code assumes existing familiarity with the framework
Trade-offs
NextChat
- The README is truncated and says little about setup beyond Vercel deployment and build flags
- Several features, such as MCP support, require building with environment flags
- Some links and release downloads point to a different repository name than the one listed
Taxonomy
- Officially archived, so it will not get fixes or updates
- The README lists known issues, such as a Prisma error on deployment and a broken opengraph-image route
- Built for Next.js 13 early App Router, so some patterns are outdated
Getting started
NextChat
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ChatGPTNextWeb/NextChatTaxonomy
Install dependencies
pnpm installCopy environment file
cp .env.example .env.localFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between NextChat and Taxonomy?
NextChat: Open-source chat app for talking to many AI models, with a web and desktop version. Taxonomy: An archived Next.js 13 demo app showing auth, subscriptions and docs with server components. NextChat suits people who want one chat window for several ai models, while Taxonomy suits developers learning the next.js app router and server components.
Are NextChat and Taxonomy free?
NextChat: Free and open source. Taxonomy: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, NextChat or Taxonomy?
NextChat is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Taxonomy is rated advanced and usually needs more setup.
Is NextChat or Taxonomy more popular?
NextChat has more GitHub stars (88.9k) than Taxonomy (19.3k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to NextChat and Taxonomy?
Other options people compare them with include LibreChat, NotionNext, AI Website Cloner, AriaNg, Cal.diy.
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.