Artificial Intelligence (AI) > A private ChatGPT alternative
A free, private ChatGPT alternative without trade-offs
You shouldn’t have to trade your privacy for an AI assistant that feels useful and personal. Use a private ChatGPT alternative that lets you think out loud, explore ideas, and get things done without worrying about your data.
Why Lumo is a safer ChatGPT alternative with all the AI features you expect
Get the benefits of an AI assistant without giving up control of your conversations and data. Here’s how Lumo compares to ChatGPT:
 Lumo AI |  ChatGPT | |
|---|---|---|
Zero-access encrypted chat history | Yes | No |
Does not log your chats | Yes | No |
No AI training on your data* | Yes | No |
Built and hosted in Europe | Yes | No |
Open-source models | Yes | No |
No third-party data sharing | Yes | No |
No ads, ever | Yes | No |
Add files easily, with cloud storage integration | Yes | Yes |
Advanced reasoning (Thinking mode) | Yes | Yes |
Image generation and editing | Yes | Yes |
Web search with cited sources | Yes | Yes |
Persistent memory across chats | Yes | Yes |
Custom assistants | Yes | Yes |
Projects to organize your chats and files | Yes | Yes |
Disappearing or temporary chats | Yes | Yes |
Personalization (remembers your preferences and tone) | Yes | Yes |
Can be used without an account | Yes | Yes |
*You can use ChatGPT in Temporary Mode to avoid AI training to some degree, or manually disable AI training in Settings → Data Controls by toggling off Improve the model for everyone, but this option is not disabled by default for personal ChatGPT accounts.
A private ChatGPT alternative with powerful AI features
Same capabilities, zero surveillance. Here's why Lumo is better than ChatGPT:
No AI training
ChatGPT lets you turn off model training manually, but it is not disabled by default for personal accounts. With Lumo, your conversations are never used for AI training, with the same features you expect from an AI assistant. Your prompts and chats stay yours.
No logging
ChatGPT lets you turn off chat history or use Temporary Chat, but it still logs your data. Lumo never logs your data, whether or not you use Ghost mode, and you still get the same fast, capable assistant. We never retain access to your conversations.
Zero-access encryption
ChatGPT retains access to your chats, so OpenAI and third parties may see them. Lumo protects your chats in transit with bidirectional asymmetric encryption and your chat history with zero-access encryption.
No ads or data sharing
While ChatGPT has started showing in-app ads, Lumo never shows ads and never shares your data with third parties. Our business model is based on subscriptions, not advertising or behavioral data.
Built in Europe
ChatGPT data may be subject to US jurisdiction because OpenAI is a US company. Lumo is built and hosted in Europe, on Proton-controlled servers, and operates under Swiss legal protections.
Open-source models
ChatGPT uses closed-source code, so there’s no public visibility into how it works behind the scenes. Lumo uses open-source models, so its technology can be independently checked by anyone, without sacrificing capability for transparency.
Get the AI features you expect
File uploads and Drive integration
Upload PDFs and images for Lumo to analyze and answer questions about. You can also add files from Proton Drive directly.
Web search with cited sources
Get answers backed by web results, up-to-date information, and cited sources.
Image generation and editing
Ask Lumo to generate and edit images, from photorealistic to cartoon style. Find them all in your gallery.
Projects for chats and files
Group chats, files, and ideas in folders to easily keep track of work using Projects.
Personalization
Give Lumo personality traits and context, and it applies that by default to all conversations, except when you're in Ghost mode.
Custom Lumos
Create assistants for distinct tasks, from a writing coach to a research assistant, each with its own instructions and personality.
Ghost mode
Keep Lumo focused on a single conversation by temporarily cutting its access to chat history and personality traits.
Mobile apps
Use Lumo anywhere with apps for iOS, Android, and web.
Join an encrypted ecosystem that protects your privacy
Lumo is part of a privacy-first ecosystem that protects your data with end-to-end encryption and zero-access encryption. Nobody can see your data except you and the people you choose to share it with — not even us.
When you create a free Lumo account, you also get access to our VPN(new window), email, calendar, cloud storage, document editor, spreadsheet editor, password manager, video conferencing, and more.
Over 100 million people and businesses worldwide trust us with their data
@recant731
on X
Just got Lumo to help plan out a road trip, with detailed routes and budgets for stays and my car on fuel. @ProtonPrivacy already had me stoked and now @asklumo has too.
@markruffalo
via Instagram comment
There are other chat apps you can use that are actually just as good, cheaper or more private that don’t fund evil in the world. Lumo from ProtonMail comes to mind
@banasnap.bsky.social
on Bluesky
Promising premise: a privacy-first AI is exactly what the current landscape was missing. With most services dominated by US and Chinese companies, having a European-based option, from a team already well-versed in online privacy, fills a much-needed gap. Looking forward to trying Lumo.
tintreack
on Reddit
This is pretty awesome, and the mascot is kind of adorable. I really love the branding of this. Also, as a visionary user who has to use ChatGPT for his workflow, thank you. I can finally get rid of that. I've been testing it out, it's pretty great! Nice job team.
Switch to a private AI assistant, with the same capabilities
Use Lumo for all the things you already turn to AI for, knowing that it isn’t trained on your chats and won’t expose your private information to competitors, partners, or advertisers.
Frequently asked questions about Lumo, the best alternative to ChatGPT
- Why is Lumo a better alternative to ChatGPT?
- What languages does Lumo support?
- Can I use Lumo for work or team collaboration?
- Does Lumo comply with data protection regulations?
