The open-source alternative to ChatGPT agent and workspace agents

Looking for something like ChatGPT agent and workspace agents, but open source and free to start? Alfera is the AI coworker your whole team shares: a company brain that syncs your apps, connections shared per person or per team, permissions on every action, and Slack, WhatsApp and email. Self-host it in one click, or start on Alfera Cloud.

In one line: Alfera is open source with a company brain, vs a closed agent inside ChatGPT.

AI assistant with agent mode and shared team agentsAlfera on GitHub
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ChatGPT agent and workspace agentsAI assistant with agent mode and shared team agentsOpen source, or Alfera Cloud
What it isOpenAI's agent mode in ChatGPT plus workspace agents: shared, Codex-powered team agents that run in the cloud, in ChatGPT and Slack.The AI coworker your whole team shares, with a company brain that syncs your apps. Open source.
Open sourceNoYes, AGPL-3.0
Self-hostNot publishedYes: one click on DigitalOcean or AWS, or one command on any server
PriceBusiness Standard seat $20/month billed yearly ($25 monthly); extra usage via workspace creditsFree to start: open source to self-host, and Alfera Cloud starts with $10 of free AI usage
Where it worksWeb app, Desktop app, Mobile app, SlackSlack, WhatsApp, email from its own address, the web app, a Mac app, the API and MCP
Team useShared workspace agents with Can chat / Can edit / Owner access, group sharing, a team directory, and usage analytics per agent.Multiplayer: one coworker for the whole team. It knows who is asking, and each connection is shared with everyone, one project, or one person
PermissionsOwner picks tools, data and actions, and can require approval before steps like sending email. Admins set who can use, build and share agents.Allow, ask first, or never, per connection and per action. Approvals in Slack, email or the app, and every action logged
Starts on its ownWorkspace agents run on a schedule or pick up requests in Slack channels. Agent mode tasks can repeat daily, weekly or monthly.On a schedule, from a webhook, or on 600+ app events
ModelsOpenAI models only; workspace agents are powered by Codex and billed per model on the rate card. Bring your own key: Not published.230+ models: Claude, GPT, Gemini, open models, your ChatGPT plan, or your own

Where ChatGPT agent and workspace agents is the better choice

Teams on ChatGPT Business, Enterprise or Edu that want to turn repeatable workflows into shared agents.

  • Agent mode has its own virtual browser with a take-over mode so you can log in without the agent seeing your password
  • Workspace agents have multiplayer editing with Can chat and Can edit roles, plus group sharing
  • Ready-made agent templates for finance, sales, marketing and more, with built-in skills

Everything Alfera does

  • A company brain that syncs your apps. Connect Google Drive, Notion, Slack and the rest. Documents sync on their own, keep every version, and every answer draws on them.
  • One coworker for the whole team. It knows who is asking. Many people, many tasks at once, each with their own chats and connections, and shared chats when you want.
  • 3,000+ app connections, shared the way you choose. Each connection is open to everyone, one project, or one person. A personal mailbox stays personal; the support inbox is the team’s.
  • Permissions on every action. Allow, ask first, or never, per connection and per action. Approvals land in Slack, email or the app, and every action is logged.
  • Where your team already is. Slack, WhatsApp, email from its own address, the web app, a Mac app, and your own code through the API and MCP.
  • It starts work by itself. On a schedule, from a webhook, or on 600+ app events in Gmail, HubSpot, Stripe and more.
  • Its own computer. Every chat runs in a sandbox with a terminal and a browser, and its files stay from one chat to the next.
  • Any model. 230+ models: Claude, GPT, Gemini, open models, your ChatGPT plan, or a model you run yourself.
  • Open source, and free to start. AGPL-3.0. Self-host it in one click on DigitalOcean or AWS, or start on Alfera Cloud with $10 of free AI usage.

ChatGPT agent and workspace agents and Alfera

Alfera. Alfera is the AI coworker your whole team shares. It has a company brain that syncs your apps, 3,000+ app connections shared per person or per team, permissions on every action, and it works in Slack, WhatsApp, email and the web app. It starts work by itself, runs on any model, and it is open source: self-host it in one click or start free on Alfera Cloud. ChatGPT agent and workspace agents is not open source.

Sources

Facts about ChatGPT agent and workspace agents come from its own pages, read on 16 October 2026. Something out of date? Write to hello@alfera.ai and we will fix it.