OvertChat
OvertChat is a tidy, uncluttered home for everyday AI chat. Conversations, projects and a library of past chats live on your own instance, and there are native apps for iOS and Android when you're away from a browser.
It's built for a household. You set it up once, then give each person their own login, so everyone gets their own conversations on the same models.
Why run OvertChat on ElfHosted?
- AI included. Your OvertChat arrives with an ElfHosted model ready to go, so you can start chatting on day one without signing up for a provider or pasting in an API key.
- Room to grow. Add your own provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, or anything OpenAI-compatible such as OpenRouter) whenever you want more models or more usage. It sits alongside the included one.
- One subscription, the whole family. Everyone gets an account of their own on your instance.
Get a 7-day trial of ElfHosted OvertChat! 
How do I access OvertChat?
OvertChat is available:
Signed-in users see their own URLs
The addresses above show the general pattern. Sign in and these become your personal, clickable links.
How do I get started?
- Open OvertChat from your dashboard. The very first time, you'll be asked to create an account. The first account becomes the administrator. Only you can reach that sign-up page, because it sits behind your ElfHosted login; everyone else signs in with an OvertChat account you give them.
- Start a new chat. "ElfHosted AI (included)" is already selected.
- To add family members, go to Settings → Users and create an account for each person. They sign in with the email and password you set, and can change the password afterwards under Settings → Security.
Can I use the mobile apps?
Yes. Install OvertChat from the App Store or Google Play, and when it asks for a server, enter your OvertChat address (shown above). Sign in with the same account you use in the browser.
Is AI included?
Yes. OvertChat comes with an ElfHosted model already configured, and it runs on an allowance included with your plan. The allowance resets daily, which suits everyday chat for a household. If it runs out, OvertChat shows a message saying when it comes back.
The included model is chosen by ElfHosted and kept deliberately simple: plain, fast chat. Tools such as saved memories aren't used with it.
Can I use my own provider?
Yes, and it's the way to get a choice of models, heavier use, or tools like memories. As the administrator, open Settings → Models → Add model, pick your provider, and paste in your API key. Your own models appear in the model picker next to the included one, for everyone on your instance.
What else can I switch on?
OvertChat can search the web if you give it a search provider. As the administrator, open Settings → Services, set web search to Brave Search API, and add your own Brave Search API key. Search is off until you do.
How do I get support for OvertChat?
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For general use of OvertChat, refer to the official site or to one of the links in the resources section below.
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For specific support re your ElfHosted configuration / account, see the ElfHosted support options!
OvertChat resources
Your content, your responsibility
ElfHosted provides OvertChat as a hosted application — we do not supply content, accounts, or third-party credentials. You are responsible for ensuring that your use of this app complies with applicable laws and our Acceptable Use Policy. If you have questions about what is or isn't permitted, please reach out — we're happy to help.
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(responding to a discussion re the cost of ElfHosted vs mainstream streaming / self-hosting):
I didn't know that the goal of this project was to compete with large companies running/renting entire DCs. I was under the impression that the goal of this project was to manage the updating of almost selfhosted applications on a shared platform with other users. Basically, be my sysadmin for me.
That being said, paying for services is the 'easy button'. There is a real world cost incurred for the time saved. Time is money. Time is the most valuable currency that exists. Once time is spent, it's forever lost, one cannot retrieve it again (yet). In my mind, there are 3 options for use of time with respect to: mainstream, selfhosting, elfhosted.
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I know how much my time is worth, does that reddit poster know how much their time is worth? Without knowing what you are worth, you can't make effective capital expenditures with respect to the time it will take to recoup the capital.
I know I don't need elfhosted at all for my use case. I choose to stay with elfhosted because it's my 'easy button'. It's an efficient capital expense for the amount of time it saves me managing my own hardware, apps and saves me electricity costs. I'm also in a situation where I don't have upload bandwidth from my home to serve HD content to myself remotely. If I lived back in a city, I would still be here. My time is worth $$/hr.
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