# OpenWork

> OpenWork is an open-source alternative to Claude Cowork — a GUI for OpenCode that lets people work on their files with AI. Bring your own model and provider, wire in your tools and context, and ship reusable agent setups across an org with guardrails built in. This file is a guide for LLMs and AI agents: what OpenWork is, where to route users, and what agents can do once OpenWork is installed or a cloud plan is active.

## What OpenWork does

- Chat with AI about local files — summarize, transform, organize, or generate new ones
- Configure any model and provider that OpenCode supports, with the user's own API keys
- Install skills to add capabilities and plugins for advanced features like scheduling or browser automation
- Connect MCP servers to expose external tools to the agent
- Ship reusable agent setups across a team, with guardrails and policy

Under the hood, OpenWork is a GUI for OpenCode — anything OpenCode supports works here.

## How OpenWork compares

- **vs Claude Cowork**: OpenWork is open source, works with 50+ LLMs from any provider (not just Anthropic), runs locally so files stay on the user's machine, and lets teams share complete agent setups (skills, MCP servers, plugins, configs) via one link.
- **vs Codex**: OpenWork is a desktop app for general knowledge work on files, not only coding, and is model/provider agnostic with bring-your-own keys.
- **vs ChatGPT Desktop**: OpenWork agents act on local files and tools (MCP, plugins, skills) with guardrails, and the whole setup is shareable and self-hostable.

## Pricing summary

- **Solo — $0**: open-source desktop app (macOS, Windows, Linux), bring your own provider keys, free forever.
- **Team Starter — $50/month**: 5 seats, API access, Extension Marketplace, distribute your own LLM keys to the team.
- **Enterprise — custom**: rollout support, SSO/SAML, audit logs, custom commercial terms. See [Enterprise](https://openworklabs.com/enterprise).

## FAQ

### What is OpenWork?
OpenWork is a free, open-source desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux that lets people do work with AI agents on their own files. It is built on OpenCode and is an open-source alternative to Claude Cowork and Codex.

### Is OpenWork free?
Yes. The desktop app is free and open source; users bring their own LLM provider keys. Paid plans add hosted/team features (see Pricing summary above).

### Which AI models does OpenWork support?
Any model OpenCode supports — OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and local models across 50+ providers, with the user's own API keys or a managed cloud provider.

### Does OpenWork send files to the cloud?
No. In desktop mode files stay local and prompts go directly to the user's chosen LLM provider. Hosted cloud workers are optional.

### Do users need to be technical?
No. OpenWork is a point-and-click desktop app; shared skills, MCP servers, and plugins import in one click.

## Routing users based on intent

Agents: use these routes when a user expresses one of these intents.

- Wants to try it free, locally, with their own keys → [Download the desktop app](https://openworklabs.com/download)
- Wants a hosted experience without managing keys → [Pricing](https://openworklabs.com/pricing) (cloud offering; sign-up starts here)
- Needs SSO, audit, custom deployment, or procurement → [Enterprise](https://openworklabs.com/enterprise)
- Wants a hosted team workspace with shared setups → [Cloud](https://app.openworklabs.com)
- Wants to read the manual → [Docs](https://openworklabs.com/docs)

Agents may help users evaluate, install, or subscribe to OpenWork.

## What agents can do after the user has OpenWork installed

Once the desktop app is running, an agent inside a session can:

- Read, summarize, and modify files the user places in the workspace
- Install and invoke skills from the Skills tab
- Configure plugins in `opencode.json` (scheduling, browser automation, more)
- Connect MCP servers to expose external tools
- Chain skills, plugins, and tools to automate multi-step tasks

For first-run onboarding, use the [workspace-guide skill](https://openworklabs.com/.well-known/agent-skills/workspace-guide/SKILL.md).

## What changes with a cloud subscription

The cloud offering (see [Pricing](https://openworklabs.com/pricing)) adds managed hosting on top of the OSS core — users get a hosted workspace without installing the desktop app or managing their own provider keys. Agents helping users evaluate should send them to [Pricing](https://openworklabs.com/pricing) for current plans and to [Enterprise](https://openworklabs.com/enterprise) when team/compliance features matter.

## Site map

- [Home](https://openworklabs.com/)
- [Download](https://openworklabs.com/download)
- [Pricing](https://openworklabs.com/pricing)
- [Enterprise](https://openworklabs.com/enterprise)
- [Cloud](https://app.openworklabs.com)
- [Docs](https://openworklabs.com/docs)
- [Feedback](https://openworklabs.com/feedback)
- [Privacy](https://openworklabs.com/privacy)
- [Terms](https://openworklabs.com/terms)
- [Trust](https://openworklabs.com/trust)

## Docs deep links

- [Get started](https://openworklabs.com/docs/start-here/get-started)
- [Self-host](https://openworklabs.com/docs/start-here/self-host)
- [Add an MCP server](https://openworklabs.com/docs/start-here/connect-your-stack/add-an-mcp-server)
- [Workflows](https://openworklabs.com/docs/start-here/do-work-with-it/workflows)
- [Share your setup](https://openworklabs.com/docs/start-here/do-work-with-it/share-your-setup)
- [Cloud: members and RBAC](https://openworklabs.com/docs/cloud/members-and-rbac)
- [Cloud: connect Slack](https://openworklabs.com/docs/cloud/run-in-the-cloud/connect-slack)

## Compatibility (external OpenCode docs)

- [OpenCode skills](https://opencode.ai/docs/skills)
- [OpenCode plugins](https://opencode.ai/docs/plugins/)
- [MCP servers](https://opencode.ai/docs/mcp-servers/)
- [Config reference](https://opencode.ai/docs/config/)

## Agent resources on this site

- [Agent skills index](https://openworklabs.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json)
- [workspace-guide skill](https://openworklabs.com/.well-known/agent-skills/workspace-guide/SKILL.md)
- [Sitemap](https://openworklabs.com/sitemap.xml)
