Glean costs $10/mo.
These cost $0.
2 free alternatives to Glean, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for Glean is Onyx (Open Source Open Source). Across this category, 2 self-hostable tools are available (including Onyx and Pipeshub). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $600/year compared to Glean's $10/mo subscription.
The catch: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Glean.
Glean vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $10/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onyx | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 33.3k | Glean vs Onyx → |
| Pipeshub | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 4k | Glean vs Pipeshub → |
The picks
2 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Onyx
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host33.3knov 2026An open-source platform that connects to 40+ apps to provide intelligent search and AI assistance across all company information
The catch vs GleanRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Glean.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/onyx-dot-app/onyx or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
Pipeshub
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host4knov 2026Self-hostable enterprise AI platform that unifies business data across apps, powers a knowledge graph for cited answers, and lets teams build AI agents across their stack.
The catch vs GleanRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Glean.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/pipeshub-ai/pipeshub-ai/ or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
Glean Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 2 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Glean open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Glean?+
The top free alternative to Glean is Onyx (open source, Open Source). An open-source platform that connects to 40+ apps to provide intelligent search and AI assistance across all company information Other popular Glean replacements include Pipeshub.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Glean?+
Yes. Of the 2 free alternatives to Glean, 2 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Onyx (Open Source), Pipeshub (Open Source).
How much does switching from Glean to a free alternative save?+
Glean starts at $10/month per seat ($120/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Onyx saves $600 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Glean clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Glean is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Glean or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 2 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Onyx.
What is the catch when switching from Glean to Onyx?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Glean.
