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Open metaiolab.com

NextChat

Best for: users who want a lighter self-hosted web client with minimal setup friction.

NextChat is popular because it is fast, simple, and easy to deploy.

Use MetaioLab through its OpenAI-compatible route.

  • OPENAI_API_KEY=your-metaio-key
  • BASE_URL=https://metaiolab.com/v1

You can also define custom models depending on your deployment style.

Use NextChat if you want:

  • a lightweight client
  • a simpler deployment story
  • fewer enterprise-style controls than Open WebUI

If you need deep admin controls, multi-user governance, or more advanced connection management, Open WebUI is usually the better choice.