DocsGPT vs PrivateGPT
Short answer
DocsGPT: Open-source platform for AI agents and assistants that answer from your documents with sources. PrivateGPT: API-first private document Q&A that sits on top of your own LLM server. Both are in our Knowledge base & RAG category.
Choose PrivateGPT if you want: larger community (57.6k vs 18.3k GitHub stars).
DocsGPT and PrivateGPT publish no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.
Last updated · computed from each project's official docs and live GitHub data · sources
DocsGPT vs PrivateGPT side by side
| DocsGPT | PrivateGPT | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Knowledge base & RAG | Knowledge base & RAG |
| What it is | Open-source platform for AI agents and assistants that answer from your documents with sources. | API-first private document Q&A that sits on top of your own LLM server. |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| License type | Permissive | Permissive |
| License conditions | Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep license and notices. | Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep license and notices. |
| Status | Active | Active |
| GitHub stars | 18.3k | 57.6k |
| Last commit | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 |
| Latest release | 1.0.0 | v1.0.1 |
| Minimum hardware | Not published | Not published |
| Recommended hardware | Not published | Not published |
| RAM measured by us | Not tested yet | Not tested yet |
| GPU | Not required / not stated | Not required / not stated |
| Est. server cost | Not estimated | Not estimated |
| Deploy method | Docker Compose | uv (Python) or Docker |
| Known gotchas | 4 listed | 2 listed |
| Telemetry | On by default | Not documented |
| Calls home by default | Yes, by default | Not documented |
| SSO (OIDC / SAML / LDAP) | Free (OIDC free) | Paid / enterprise only (LDAP paid) |
| Audit log | Yes, free | Paid / enterprise only |
| RBAC | Yes, free | Paid / enterprise only |
| Details | Full DocsGPT guide → | Full PrivateGPT guide → |
Key differences
- License: DocsGPT: MIT (Permissive). PrivateGPT: Apache-2.0 (Permissive).
- Deploy: DocsGPT: Docker Compose · multi-container stack. PrivateGPT: uv (Python) or Docker · uv (Python) or Docker.
- GitHub stars: DocsGPT: 18.3k. PrivateGPT: 57.6k.
- Last commit: DocsGPT: Oct 24, 2026. PrivateGPT: Oct 23, 2026.
- Latest release: DocsGPT: 1.0.0 (Oct 8, 2026). PrivateGPT: v1.0.1 (Jun 18, 2026).
Same for both: Category: Knowledge base & RAG; Official hardware: not published; GPU: not required or not stated; Est. server cost: not estimated (no official RAM figure); Status: Active.
DocsGPT vs PrivateGPT: FAQ
DocsGPT or PrivateGPT: which should a small business choose?
Choose PrivateGPT if you want: larger community (57.6k vs 18.3k GitHub stars). DocsGPT and PrivateGPT publish no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.
Which is cheaper to self-host, DocsGPT or PrivateGPT?
DocsGPT: not estimated (no official RAM figure). PrivateGPT: not estimated (no official RAM figure). Our estimate is the cheapest Hetzner Cloud plan that meets each project's official RAM and vCPU figure; it covers the server only.
How much hardware do DocsGPT and PrivateGPT need?
DocsGPT: not published. PrivateGPT: not published.
What is the license difference between DocsGPT and PrivateGPT?
DocsGPT: MIT (Permissive). Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep license and notices. PrivateGPT: Apache-2.0 (Permissive). Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep license and notices. This is a summary, not legal advice.
Is DocsGPT or PrivateGPT more actively maintained?
DocsGPT: Active, last commit Oct 24, 2026. PrivateGPT: Active, last commit Oct 23, 2026. GitHub data refreshed Oct 24, 2026.
Which is easier to deploy, DocsGPT or PrivateGPT?
DocsGPT installs via Docker Compose (multi-container stack); PrivateGPT via uv (Python) or Docker (uv (Python) or Docker). DocsGPT lists 4 known gotchas and PrivateGPT lists 2; see each app page.
Related
- DocsGPT self-hosting guide · PrivateGPT self-hosting guide
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- All PrivateGPT alternatives, ranked
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- kotaemon vs PrivateGPT
- MaxKB vs PrivateGPT
- Onyx (formerly Danswer) vs PrivateGPT
- Add a third app in the interactive comparison
Sources
- DocsGPT GitHub repository: github.com/arc53/DocsGPT
- DocsGPT documentation: docs.docsgpt.cloud/
- DocsGPT license: github.com/arc53/DocsGPT/blob/main/LICENSE
- DocsGPT hardware requirements, DocsGPT deploy instructions: docs.docsgpt.cloud/Deploying/Docker-Deploying
- PrivateGPT GitHub repository: github.com/zylon-ai/private-gpt
- PrivateGPT documentation, PrivateGPT hardware requirements: docs.privategpt.dev/getting-started/quickstart
- PrivateGPT license: github.com/zylon-ai/private-gpt/blob/main/LICENSE
- PrivateGPT deploy instructions: github.com/zylon-ai/private-gpt#readme
- Hetzner Cloud pricing used for cost estimates (read 2026-10-22): www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance
- GitHub REST API (stars, commits, releases): docs.github.com/en/rest
Every value is generated from the same verified data as the app pages. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.