ChatGPT alternative for companies: 6 options compared

A ChatGPT alternative for companies is an AI chat that employees can use like ChatGPT, while the company controls where data is processed, which model responds, and who has access. There are six options: ChatGPT Enterprise with EU data residency, Microsoft Copilot, Mistral Vibe, platforms such as Langdock, a custom interface such as Open WebUI with European models, and fully local AI. Which one is suitable depends primarily on how sensitive data is handled.

In many companies, employees have long been using ChatGPT, often with private accounts and without rules. The problem: Free and Plus accounts are not intended for business data, and no one knows which customer data has already been entered. This comparison shows which alternatives exist and who they are suitable for. Status: October 2026.

The 6 options at a glance

Option	Where is the data processed?	Models	Effort	Suitable for
ChatGPT Enterprise	Storage and processing in Europe can be selected (new workspaces)	OpenAI	low	Larger teams that want to stay with OpenAI
Microsoft Copilot	Microsoft cloud	Microsoft/OpenAI	low	Companies that work entirely in Microsoft 365
Mistral Vibe (formerly Le Chat)	Mistral Cloud (French provider) or own environment	Mistral	low	Those who prefer a European provider
Platform like Langdock	EU hosting, including own cloud or on-premises	multiple providers selectable	low to medium	Those who want to switch models and manage them centrally
Open WebUI + European models	Own server, models e.g. via German cloud	freely selectable	medium	For those who want control without their own GPU hardware
Local AI	Fully on your own servers	Open-source models	high	Law firms, healthcare, public administration, trade secrets

1. ChatGPT Enterprise with EU data residency

Anyone who wants to stay with ChatGPT needs an enterprise plan instead of private accounts. According to OpenAI Help Center new ChatGPT Enterprise and Edu workspaces can have content stored in Europe. Since January 2026, eligible Enterprise customers can additionally have processing carried out on servers in Europe. Important: both apply to newly created workspaces; an existing one cannot be switched afterward. For smaller teams, the Enterprise plan is often too large. What is permitted in use is explained in the article Using ChatGPT in the company in compliance with data protection regulations.

2. Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot Chatis available to eligible Microsoft 365 accounts at no additional cost, Microsoft 365 Copilot with access to emails, files and Teams is a paid add-on license. The advantage is its integration into Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams. The disadvantage: you remain tied to Microsoft, and Copilot can see everything a user has access to. Incorrectly assigned permissions quickly become visible. What matters when introducing it: Introducing Microsoft Copilot.

3. Mistral Vibe: the European provider

Mistral AI is a French company. Since 2026, its chat assistant has been called Vibe (formerly Le Chat) and, according to Mistral, is available for businesses in the Team and Enterprise plans. Training with user data is regulated as an opt-out, so you should actively disable it. For high requirements, Mistral offers dedicated deployments in which the data remains in your environment. Some of the models are also available as open source; more on this on the page Mistral AI.

4. Platforms like Langdock: multiple models, one interface

Langdock is a platform from Langdock GmbH based in Berlin. It combines various AI models in one interface, supplemented by assistants, workflows, and integrations with company systems. According to Langdockthe service is hosted in the EU, certified according to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II, and can also be operated in your own cloud or on-premises. The advantage: you can switch models depending on the task without tying yourself to a model provider. Note that the data protection assessment depends on the model selected in each case. More on the page Langdock.

5. Open WebUI with European models

Open WebUI is an open-source chat interface that looks very similar to ChatGPT and runs on your own server. You choose the models behind it yourself: for example, open-source models via a German cloud provider such as the IONOS AI Model Hub. This keeps chat histories and documents with you, without having to buy your own graphics cards. Users, groups and permissions can be managed centrally. Details, including the licensing catch from 50 users, in the article Open WebUI: The ChatGPT alternative for your team.

6. Local AI on your own servers

The strictest option: the language model, interface and data all run entirely on servers you control, on-premises or in a German data center. No text leaves your network. This is the choice for law firms, medical practices, care services, public administrations and anyone working with trade secrets. The price for this is hardware and operations. How large the performance gap to ChatGPT is, explains Local AI vs. ChatGPT. What hardware is required is explained in GPU servers for mid-sized businesses.

How to make the decision

Which data should go into the chat?Only public texts and drafts: Almost any approach works. Customer data, client matters, patient data: Open WebUI with models from Germany or local AI.
How heavily do you work in Microsoft 365?Very heavily: Check Copilot first. Mixed: A model-independent solution gives you more flexibility.
Do you need company knowledge in the chat?Then document integration matters, see Open WebUI with company knowledge.
Who maintains the solution? SaaS services require little maintenance, whereas on-premises servers need updates and monitoring.

Regardless of the approach, without clear rules on what may be entered and brief employee training, any alternative remains half-hearted. What an in-house solution costs is shown by What does a custom ChatGPT for a company cost?. In selecting and implementing it, AI consulting from bettersorted, vendor-independent and, if desired, operated on servers in Germany.

The consulting and guided implementation is eligible for funding: through INQA-CoachingThe federal government covers 80% of consulting costs of up to €1,200 per day for up to 12 days, i.e. up to €11,520 in funding. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the other new federal states, the BAFA consulting grant with 80% is also available until 31.12.2026 (50% in the old federal states). The consulting is funded, not the software. The funding check shows which program is suitable.

Frequently asked questions

Which ChatGPT alternative is GDPR-compliant?

No solution is GDPR-compliant by default; it depends on the contract and the setup. The requirement is a data processing agreement, a known processing location, and no training with your data. Assessment is easiest with solutions that run on servers in Germany or entirely on your own infrastructure.

Is there a ChatGPT alternative from Europe?

Yes. Mistral AI from France offers its own chat assistant for businesses with Vibe (formerly Le Chat). Langdock from Berlin combines various models with EU hosting. With Open WebUI and open-source models, you can also run your own chat on servers in Germany.

Are employees allowed to use the free ChatGPT version for work?

For business data, this is not recommended. Free and Plus accounts are private contracts, without a data processing agreement with your company. Personal data or trade secrets do not belong there.

Is a local AI as good as ChatGPT?

For many office tasks such as summarizing, drafting, and asking questions about your own documents, current open-source models are often sufficient. For very complex analyses or programming tasks, the large cloud models usually have the edge. A test with your typical tasks shows the difference best.

As of October 2026. Provider information according to their websites, without guarantee.