Replaces ChatGPT
European alternatives to ChatGPT
Compare French and Swiss AI operators, ownership and data handling
Browse the category: Generative AI chatbots
ChatGPT is the generative AI assistant from OpenAI in the United States. You type a question or paste a document and it answers in conversation, drafts and rewrites text, summarises material, explains and writes code, and works with images and files. Despite the company name, the models and the product are not released under a free licence, so the system behind the chat window is closed.
Mistral Vibe, formerly Le Chat, is operated by Mistral AI in France; Lumo is operated by Proton AG in Switzerland. Our September 2026 reviews identify both operators, but leave ultimate control unresolved, so these listings are shown separately from verified European-controlled recommendations. Location, training settings and third-party processing need separate checks: Mistral lists US suppliers and feature transfers, while Lumo distinguishes encrypted saved history from server-side inference and discloses overseas support/payment processing.
European options
| service | Country | Hosting | Open source | Free plan | Status |
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Services without verified European control
Kept here for transparency, but excluded from the European options and totals. How we classify services →
France
SwitzerlandQuestions
Does a European company address guarantee European control and processing?
No. Our reviews distinguish the registered operator, ultimate voting control and the services that process data. Both listings have documented European operators, but their current ownership evidence does not establish ultimate control. A European hosting region also does not make every supplier European.
How do Mistral Vibe and Lumo differ?
Mistral Vibe combines chat, writing and coding tools; check its training settings and feature-specific data transfers. Lumo emphasizes encrypted saved conversations, while its model server still processes decrypted prompts. Optional feedback has training implications for both. Their product pages explain the evidence and limits.
Can I try either assistant for free?
Both offer free access with limits and separate paid plans. Lumo also advertises guest access. Compare the current message, file and feature limits, billing period, taxes and cancellation terms before subscribing. Prices in our reviews were checked on 18 September 2026.