Open source OpenAI Dots alternative
Updated October 7, 2026.
Searching for an open source OpenAI Dots alternative? Dots are the always-on agents OpenAI announced on September 29, 2026. OpenAI says each one runs GPT-6 Astra on its own cloud computer, and they are rolling out to eligible Pro, Business Premium, and Enterprise plans.
Krypton is unrelated software: AI teammates whose source is open, which you can host on your own, running on model credentials you supply.
- Runs on a server you own
- Any supported model
- Apache-2.0 source
- Hosted by OpenAI
- Eligible ChatGPT plans
- Closed source
Krypton vs Dots, side by side
| Topic | Krypton | Dots |
|---|---|---|
| Product | An open source home for persistent AI teammates, currently in beta. | OpenAI's always-on agents. OpenAI says a dot learns from your feedback and can pursue your goals continuously. |
| Who runs it | You, when you self-host with Docker or connect the desktop and mobile apps to a server you operate. Prefer not to? Krypton Cloud (beta) runs it for you. | OpenAI. Per the announcement, every dot gets a cloud computer of its own. |
| Source | Public on GitHub under Apache-2.0. | A hosted OpenAI product. |
| Model | Any supported provider with credentials you bring, a custom model server included. | GPT-6 Astra, as stated in OpenAI's announcement. |
| Connections | Pick Composio or Pipedream Connect, or install your own Treg, remote MCP, or OpenAPI source. Each bot also works in its own sandboxed desktop, browser, terminal, and files included. | OpenAI says plugins link a dot to over 4,000 apps, sharing those permissions with ChatGPT. The help center adds that a dot can have a Slack account of its own. |
| Ongoing work | Every bot has its own conversations, memory, routines, and history. Bots write facts to memory without being asked, and the team rules turn a procedure that worked into a skill any bot in the workspace can pick up. Routines are plain Markdown you can read, and they can run on a schedule. Bots can hand work to a peer bot or to a short-lived subagent. | OpenAI says a dot can carry on in the background. Its proactive research reads sources you permit and keeps private notes. That research, per the help center, is barred from sending messages, editing content through plugins, or driving a browser or computer. |
| Control and availability | You draw the boundaries and the bot asks before crossing one; every action lands in an audit log. Self-hosting gives you the web, desktop, and mobile clients today. | Built-in rules plus Custom Rules define which actions a dot may take freely, which need your OK first, and which are off-limits, and Custom Rules cannot disable the core safety checks. The help center says you take over for steps like changing a password or transferring money, and Activity View shows work in progress. Pro and Business Premium include the first dot. Dots are off-limits to users under 18, and OpenAI is previewing specialist dots for organizations. |
Why an open source, self-hosted agent
- Every line is public on GitHub under the Apache-2.0 license.
- Deploy from the published Docker images or straight from source, on hardware you control. The desktop app can launch that stack on your computer or connect to a server you already operate.
- Model credentials are yours to bring. Connector credentials stay encrypted on the server, and the API never returns them.
- Routines are Markdown you can read. Bots stop for your approval at the boundaries you set, and each action is written to an audit log.
- Web, Electron desktop, and Expo mobile are all clients of one API, so the same bots follow you everywhere.
Try Krypton your way
Self-host it on your own machine, or skip the setup with Krypton Cloud, now in beta.
Dots alternative: common questions
Is Krypton a replacement for a dot?
Not directly. A dot is an OpenAI agent that comes with an eligible ChatGPT plan. Krypton is open source software you operate yourself, using model credentials of your own.
Is an OpenAI account required for Krypton?
No. OpenAI is just one of the model connections you can choose. Bring credentials from whichever supported provider you prefer.
Where does the Dots information come from?
The Dots column draws on OpenAI's September 29, 2026 announcement and its Dots privacy, security, and safety FAQ. Check both before relying on any specific capability.