# generate.now vs IT Tools

> IT Tools is an open-source, self-hostable developer toolbox under GPL-3.0. generate.now is hosted-only with natural-language input and per-tool reference content. An honest comparison.

- URL: https://generate.now/vs/it-tools
- Compared: generate.now vs IT Tools (https://it-tools.tech)
- Last verified: 2026-08-27

## The short answer

IT Tools is an open-source, self-hostable collection of developer utilities under GPL-3.0. If you want your toolbox running on your own infrastructure, or working offline, use it. generate.now is hosted only, but takes natural-language input on several tools and publishes worked examples and a spec citation for each one. Different trade-offs, both free.

## Side by side

| Feature | generate.now | IT Tools | Stronger |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Self-hostable | No — hosted only | Yes, via Docker | IT Tools |
| Licence | Source not published | GPL-3.0 | IT Tools |
| Works offline | No | Yes, when self-hosted | IT Tools |
| Catalogue size | 31 tools | Larger — a broader set of small utilities | IT Tools |
| Natural-language input | Yes, on 7 tools | No | generate.now |
| Per-tool reference content | Examples, FAQ, and cited specifications on every tool | Minimal — the interface is the documentation | generate.now |
| Data leaving the browser | The prompt only, and only on AI-assisted tools | Never — everything runs client-side | IT Tools |
| Price | Free, no account | Free, no account | Even |

## When IT Tools is the better choice

- You want to self-host, which takes one Docker command
- You need the tools to work offline or on an air-gapped network
- You want GPL-3.0 source you can audit, fork, or contribute to
- You want the broader catalogue — IT Tools covers more utilities
- You want a hard guarantee that no input ever leaves the machine

## When generate.now is the better choice

- You want to describe what you need in plain English rather than fill in fields
- You want worked examples, an FAQ, and a link to the specification for each tool
- You want zero setup — no Docker, no deployment, no maintenance
- You want to see when a tool was last updated and who maintains it

## Frequently asked questions

### Is IT Tools free?

Yes, and it's open source under GPL-3.0. You can use the hosted version at it-tools.tech at no cost, or run your own instance with a single Docker command and never depend on anyone else's uptime.

### Can I self-host generate.now?

No. It's hosted only, and the source isn't published. If self-hosting matters to you — for an air-gapped network, a compliance requirement, or just a preference — IT Tools is the right answer and this isn't a close call.

### Does generate.now send my input anywhere?

Only on the AI-assisted tools, and only the prompt itself — nothing is stored or used for training. The other 24 tools run entirely in your browser. IT Tools runs everything client-side with no exceptions, which is a stronger guarantee if that's what you need.

### Which one has more tools?

IT Tools has the larger catalogue. generate.now has 31, each with worked examples, a FAQ, and a link to the specification it implements. It's depth per tool against breadth of tools — pick based on which you actually need.

## Sources

- [IT Tools](https://it-tools.tech) — Corentin Thomasset. The tool being compared — a collection of handy online tools for developers.
- [CorentinTh/it-tools](https://github.com/CorentinTh/it-tools) — GitHub. The source repository, including the Docker instructions for self-hosting.