Skales

Self-hostable AI web platform · Last verified July 22, 2026

Skales vs. LobeHub

A service you host and reach from anywhere vs. an app that owns your machine.

LobeHub (formerly LobeChat, roughly 80,700 GitHub stars as of July 22, 2026) is the biggest project in this category and has spent 2026 repositioning from chat client to agent platform: an Agent Builder, Agent Groups that work a task in parallel, scheduled runs, a 10,000+ entry plugin and MCP marketplace, and a genuinely beautiful interface. It also ships a real native iOS app, released March 2026, which can point at your own self-hosted server rather than their cloud.

The architecture is the difference. LobeHub is a web service: you either use their cloud or run a Docker deployment and reach it through a browser or the app. That is the right shape for access from every device - and the wrong shape for touching the machine you are sitting at. Skales installs on that machine and works on it: your files, your calendar, your desktop, your local models, with nothing in between. Two more things to know before you build on LobeHub: its licence is not OSI open source (derivative works need a paid commercial licence), and its cloud tiers run from $17.99 to $69.99 a month.

Skales LobeHub What this means for you
Shape A desktop app on the machine it works on A web service: their cloud, or your Docker deployment behind a browser Local access vs. universal access - pick the one your work needs.
Setup for self-hosting Double-click an installer, ~30 seconds Docker or a one-click deploy to Vercel/Zeabur/Sealos, plus a database No infrastructure to own or keep alive.
Acts on your computer Files, browser control, computer use, calendar, email, messengers - on your machine Runs where it is deployed, not where you are sitting This is the whole architectural split.
Unattended work Background goals, recurring schedules, approval gates on by default Scheduled agent runs and parallel Agent Groups Honest call: both schedule real work.
Mobile Native app, standalone agent with on-device model, no account, optional E2E pairing to your desktop Native iOS app since March 2026; works against their cloud or your own server; Android availability unconfirmed Both have real apps. Theirs needs a server behind it; ours does not.
Account None. There is no sign-up anywhere in Skales. A cloud account, or your own deployment to sign in to Nothing to create, nothing to be locked out of.
Plugins MCP servers plus 183 built-in tools and the SKILL.md standard 10,000+ plugin and MCP marketplace - the largest here Genuine credit: their marketplace is unmatched in this category.
Price Free for personal use, BYOK, no tiers Self-host free under their community licence; cloud $17.99–$69.99/month Free either way if you self-host - the cloud is where it costs.
License BSL 1.1 → Apache 2.0 in 2030, source-available LobeHub Community License - Apache-based, but derivative works require a paid commercial licence Neither is plain open source. Read both before building on either.

Choose Skales if…

  • The work is on your computer - your files, your apps, your local models.
  • You do not want to run, update and secure a deployment to have an agent.
  • You want a phone app that is a complete agent on its own, with no account and no server.

Choose LobeHub if…

  • You want one instance reachable from every device you own, including a browser you do not control.
  • You want the largest plugin marketplace in the category and a polished team workspace.
  • You are comfortable running Docker, or you are happy paying for their hosted cloud.

Common questions

Is Skales better than LobeHub?

They solve different problems. A service you host and reach from anywhere vs. an app that owns your machine. Skales is the right choice if: The work is on your computer - your files, your apps, your local models. LobeHub is the right choice if: You want one instance reachable from every device you own, including a browser you do not control.

Is Skales free while LobeHub is also free?

Skales is free for personal, educational and internal business use (BSL 1.1, converting to Apache 2.0 in 2030). You bring your own AI key or run local models for a total cost of zero.

Can I migrate from LobeHub to Skales?

Skales imports settings and conversations from ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, OpenClaw, Hermes and Cherry Studio via Settings → Import from Another Tool.

Sources

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