Eustella: A European ChatGPT Alternative Focused on Privacy and Open-Source AI
A new European AI platform is taking a privacy-first approach to generative AI, positioning itself as an alternative for users who want powerful chatbot technology without handing over personal data for model training.
Developed by newsrooms.ai in Vienna, Eustella is designed around open-source large language models rather than a proprietary AI system trained in-house. This is an important distinction for privacy-conscious users and organizations, because the provider does not need to use customer conversations or personal information to train its own models.
Instead, Eustella relies on modern open-source AI models that are already available and continuously improving. By building on these models, the platform can focus on user experience, reliability, and data protection rather than collecting large amounts of personal data for AI development.
According to the available information, the data collected by the service is limited to product improvement. This includes technical and usage-related metrics such as loading times, latency, error rates, and clicks. In other words, the focus is on making the platform faster, more stable, and easier to use, not on analyzing private chat content for AI training.
There is one external tool involved in the data processing setup. The platform uses PostHog, a product analytics solution from a US-based provider. However, the implementation is configured to operate only on servers located in Frankfurt. The analytics are also limited to technical metadata, such as clicks and performance measurements, rather than the content of user conversations.
This setup could make Eustella especially appealing to European businesses, media teams, public institutions, and individuals who are looking for an AI assistant with stronger data protection expectations. With growing concerns around how AI services collect, store, and use personal information, a European ChatGPT-style alternative that emphasizes privacy and open-source models may attract significant attention.
For now, important details remain unclear. Pricing has not yet been announced, and it is still unknown whether Eustella will offer a free plan. Many AI platforms provide limited free access to attract users, but newsrooms.ai appears to be waiting for feedback from the beta phase before deciding how the final product and pricing structure will look.
The beta phase will likely play a key role in shaping the future of the service. User feedback may influence performance improvements, feature priorities, access limits, and potential subscription plans. If the platform can combine strong privacy standards with fast, useful AI responses, it could become a serious option for users seeking a European AI chatbot alternative.
Eustella’s biggest selling point is clear: it aims to deliver the benefits of modern generative AI while reducing dependence on personal data collection. By using open-source AI models and limiting analytics to technical performance data, the service is trying to create a more transparent and privacy-aware AI experience.
As demand for secure AI tools continues to grow, especially in Europe, Eustella may arrive at the right moment. Users are no longer only asking what an AI chatbot can do; they also want to know where their data goes, how it is processed, and whether their conversations are being used for training. Eustella’s approach directly responds to those concerns.
