German company
9brains is independently run and has no foreign parent company or investors.
AI platforms compared
What sets 9brains apart
from other AI platforms?
9brains combines multi-model AI, data integration and agents with independently run core infrastructure operated at Hetzner in Germany. For companies that want to decide on performance and sovereignty together.
German company Core infrastructure at Hetzner No training on your data
Our position
Together for a sovereign Europe.
Europe needs powerful AI that companies here can control. For us, digital sovereignty does not start and end with server location. It also includes infrastructure, ownership, data flows and the legal framework of a provider.
Infrastructure at Hetzner
Core infrastructure, workspace data, knowledge bases and files are operated in Germany.
Controllable model use
Administrators choose appropriate models and privacy levels for each workspace.
EU hosting matters. The architecture decision goes further.
EU hosting is a relevant security and privacy feature. For high sovereignty requirements, the cloud provider, control over core infrastructure, ownership and applicable jurisdiction also belong in the assessment of an AI platform.
Putting self-hosted in context
Self-hosted means control. But not always a competitive advantage.
A self-hosted AI platform can be the right choice when complete isolation, an existing platform organization or particular regulatory requirements are mandatory. However, it shifts operating, approval and release responsibility into your own environment or into a separate managed-services contract.
When self-hosted makes sense
Self-hosted is a good fit for organizations that deliberately operate their own infrastructure, maintain their own operations and release processes, and value maximum isolation over speed and simplicity.
Sovereign, without having to operate your own AI platform.
9brains operates the platform foundation at Hetzner in Germany. This gives SMEs a clear European infrastructure decision while benefiting from a centrally evolving platform.
Operations remain a responsibility
Updates, security patches, monitoring, capacity and integrations need to be coordinated, tested and approved for each customer environment. A maintenance partner can reduce effort, but the environment remains individual.
Innovation needs a release path
New models, features and interfaces must be technically and professionally assessed in an individual environment. This makes sense for special cases, but can delay access to new opportunities compared with a centrally operated platform.
The business case matters
Licenses and tokens are not the only costs. Operating effort, release windows, internal coordination and time to new productive features belong in an honest total cost calculation.
Market orientation
Which AI platform fits your organisation?
Not every alternative is worse. What matters is whether the platform, operations and data paths fit your organisation.
As of July 2026. The assessment is based on publicly available provider information. Features, deployment models and terms may change.
Compare by platform type
Langdock
A good fit if
you want to place a multi-model platform with broad enterprise integrations within your cloud strategy.
9brains is a better fit if
you want multi-model AI with German core infrastructure at Hetzner and direct connections to your own systems, without operating the platform yourself.
- German core infrastructure
- Multi-model
- Connect your own systems
CompanyGPT
A good fit if
you prioritise maximum control by running the platform in your own cloud.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to start sovereignly without having to own a platform, releases and operational processes.
- No platform operations of your own
- German core infrastructure
- Multi-model
Microsoft 365 Copilot
A good fit if
you work deeply in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and want AI directly inside familiar Office applications.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to connect multiple models, company knowledge, agents and line-of-business systems in one platform beyond Microsoft.
- Multi-model
- Curated knowledge
- Connect your own systems
ChatGPT Enterprise
A good fit if
you primarily want to rely on the OpenAI ecosystem and GPT as your standard model.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to freely choose between Claude, GPT, Gemini, Mistral and further models for each task.
- Multi-model
- German core infrastructure
- Curated knowledge
Google Cloud Gemini Enterprise
A good fit if
your work environment is already strongly aligned with Google Cloud and Google Workspace.
9brains is a better fit if
you do not want to tie your AI workplace to a single hyperscaler cloud while still using leading models.
- Multi-model
- German core infrastructure
- Connect your own systems
neuland.ai
A good fit if
you need an individual enterprise deployment with specific industry or governance requirements.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to become productive quickly without first setting up a bespoke deployment project.
- No platform operations of your own
- Multi-model
- Curated knowledge
Telekom Business GPT
A good fit if
you want to position a secured Azure environment from Telekom within your existing IT strategy.
9brains is a better fit if
you are looking for an independent German platform foundation outside an Azure operating model.
- German core infrastructure
- Multi-model
- No platform operations of your own
KI Workplace
A good fit if
you value dedicated GPU infrastructure and a regional operating environment.
9brains is a better fit if
you need more than infrastructure: multiple models, agents, curated knowledge and connections to line-of-business systems in one platform.
- Multi-model
- Curated knowledge
- Connect your own systems
DeutschlandGPT
A good fit if
you are looking for a privacy-oriented multi-model chat platform for German mid-market companies.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to curate company knowledge, connect local systems and turn both into productive skills and agents.
- Curated knowledge
- Connect your own systems
- Multi-model
meinGPT
A good fit if
you want a guided AI rollout with multi-model access and an academy offering.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to bring models, subject-matter knowledge, data sources and agents together in a controllable AI workplace.
- Multi-model
- Curated knowledge
- Connect your own systems
Lurus
A good fit if
you want to combine multi-model chat, research and tool integrations in a German platform.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to do more than search company knowledge: release it, trace it and use it as a reliable foundation for teams.
- Curated knowledge
- German core infrastructure
- Connect your own systems
innoGPT
A good fit if
you are looking for a broad feature suite with integrations, assistants and guided AI adoption.
9brains is a better fit if
you prioritise a clear AI workplace with curated knowledge, line-of-business system connections and German core infrastructure.
- German core infrastructure
- Curated knowledge
- Connect your own systems
Mindverse
A good fit if
you are looking for a German AI suite focused on content, creativity and assistants.
9brains is a better fit if
your focus is company knowledge, data sources, model freedom and agents rather than a broad content suite.
- Curated knowledge
- Multi-model
- Connect your own systems
nele.ai
A good fit if
you are looking for a user-friendly mid-market platform with a prompt library, knowledge base and central administration.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to move beyond prompts toward productive skills, agents and direct connections to your line-of-business systems.
- Connect your own systems
- Curated knowledge
- Multi-model
Omnifact
A good fit if
you need a Privacy Filter and an individual EU cloud or on-premise setup for regulated processes.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to combine sovereignty and high data security without a separate infrastructure project and individually operated environment.
- No platform operations of your own
- German core infrastructure
- Connect your own systems
Alan
A good fit if
you are looking for a German SaaS or on-premise solution with a strong advisory and change focus.
9brains is a better fit if
you are looking for immediately usable multi-model AI with new frontier models and line-of-business system connections, without starting a specialised model project.
- Multi-model
- Connect your own systems
- No platform operations of your own
basebox.ai
A good fit if
you need maximum isolation for critical data and a deployment in your own infrastructure.
9brains is a better fit if
maximum isolation is not mandatory and you want to become productive quickly with a German platform foundation, without your own hardware and operations team.
- No platform operations of your own
- German core infrastructure
- Multi-model
Aleph Alpha
A good fit if
you want to develop specialised language models for a sensitive domain or public-sector project.
9brains is a better fit if
you need multiple leading models, immediate usability and agents for everyday work rather than an individualised language-model project.
- Multi-model
- No platform operations of your own
- Curated knowledge
Claude Enterprise
A good fit if
your teams primarily want to use Claude for writing, analysis, coding and knowledge work.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to use Claude while staying free to use GPT, Gemini, Mistral and other models when a task calls for them.
- Multi-model
- German core infrastructure
- Connect your own systems
Mistral Vibe
A good fit if
you rely on European models and flexible deployment in cloud, private cloud or on-premise.
9brains is a better fit if
you want to combine European models with real model freedom, curated knowledge, agents and your own line-of-business systems.
- Multi-model
- Curated knowledge
- Connect your own systems
Where 9brains goes further
Bringing sovereignty and speed together.
A platform should not just be secure. It needs to keep pace with data, teams and innovation in daily work.
Sovereign infrastructure at Hetzner
Core infrastructure, workspace data, knowledge bases and files are operated at Hetzner in Germany.
Use existing on-premise systems
The 9brains Connector connects local sources such as Windows file servers, internal RAG systems, Oracle databases and other specialist systems. The systems remain in your infrastructure.
Curated company knowledge
Teams can curate and approve knowledge, identify contradictions and trace changes. This makes company knowledge not just searchable but reliably usable.
Innovation without operating your own platform
9brains evaluates new models and capabilities and centrally provides appropriate extensions. Teams benefit without organizing their own platform upgrade projects.
What modern AI platforms should have in common
The foundations matter. Their implementation decides the outcome.
Personal expertise
Made in Germany Founder-led Built for SMEs
No anonymous SaaS.
Real people stand behind 9brains.
Your dedicated point of contact — from the very first user.
Stephan Häuslschmid
Founder & Managing Director
"I founded 9brains because mid-sized companies deserve the same powerful technology as large corporations — without compromises on data protection, without huge IT budgets and without anonymous support hotlines. We're based in Chiemgau, deeply rooted in the region, and we work with Bavarian groundedness on the digital sovereignty of Europe. My promise to you: at 9brains you are never an anonymous ticket number. I am your dedicated point of contact — from the very first user. No bot, no call centre, just real human-to-human help."
Matthias Clauß
Co-founder
"Europe needs more courage in its own strength! That is exactly where 9brains came from: the drive to make sovereign AI possible for SMEs across the DACH region. AI today is about as mature as my first 14,400 modem back then, meaning we are still only at the beginning of a revolution whose effects we can hardly comprehend. AI is IT, and IT is a people business. That is why I believe AI only truly works when it empowers people and strengthens teams. That is why we are not just consultants, but thinkers, builders and doers. From Bavaria, with heart."
Fiona Maier
Strategy & Operations
"I work at 9brains because I’m excited by the idea of not only building sovereign AI for SMEs, but making it genuinely useful in day-to-day work. The founders bring the vision, the energy and many strong impulses, and I make sure that these turn into structure, clarity and a shared direction. I support both of them strategically and organisationally, keep the topics aligned, prioritise and create order so that many good ideas become a product that truly delivers impact. It is exactly this combination of vision, product and reliable execution that makes 9brains special to me."