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DATASHEET // LM-STUDIO

LM Studio

Desktop GUI for running local LLMs.

FREEMIUMCPU-CAPABLERuns locally
Actually FreeNo SignupWatermark-FreeHobbyist-OKAPI
Visit LM StudioUPDATED 2026-05-11 · DIRECT LINK
lmstudio.ai
LM Studio — preview image

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS //

Runs locally · Mid GPU (12 GB)

CPU-CAPABLE
Min VRAM
None
Rec. VRAM
16 GB
Min RAM
16 GB
Rec. RAM
32 GB
Disk
50 GB
GPU class
Mid GPU
CUDAApple Silicon ✓CPU-CapableQuant: GGUF, MLX

M-series Macs with 32 GB unified are a sweet spot for 13–34B models.

[ EDITORIAL PICK ]

Why we recommend LM Studio

DERIVED FROM METADATA — NOT SPONSORED
  • Genuinely free

    No paywall, no signup wall — you can use LM Studio today without handing over an email.

  • CPU-capable

    Doesn't require a dedicated GPU — useful on laptops and headless servers.

  • Apple Silicon

    Native Metal / MPS support — runs on M-series Macs without CUDA gymnastics.

  • Top-tier pick

    Power-user score 88/100 — consistently rated highly by people who use this every day, not just benchmark chasers.

[ EVIDENCE NOTE ]

Documentation-led datasheet

This page summarizes upstream documentation, release information, and editorially reviewed catalogue fields. It is not presented as a hands-on benchmark. Verify changing requirements at the official project; report stale data through our corrections channel.

Memory guide →

AT-A-GLANCE SIGNALS //

DERIVED FROM THIS PAGE'S DATA
  • Install difficulty
    Easy

    Runs CPU-only — no CUDA / driver gymnastics required.

  • Hardware comfort
    Runs anywhere

    No dedicated GPU required.

  • Ecosystem
    API-first

    Exposes a stable API — you can build on top of it programmatically.

  • Verification
    Recent

    Catalogue entry last updated 66 days ago — re-verification due soon.

[ COMMUNITY GUIDES & WORKFLOWS ]

Tutorials & deep-dives for LM Studio

Hand-picked from YouTube, Reddit, GitHub, and the wider web. Each link goes straight to the source — we don't intercept or rewrite anything.

[ MORE IN THIS NICHE ]

Other local llm runners tools we rate

Three picks across different tradeoffs — so you don't end up with three near-clones of LM Studio.

LIGHTEST HARDWARE //

Transformers

The library every LLM ships against first.

OPEN SOURCE2–24 GB VRAM
BEST FREE OPTION //

llama.cpp

The C++ inference engine powering most local LLMs.

OPEN SOURCECPU-CAPABLE
TOP QUALITY //

Ollama

One-command local LLM runtime.

OPEN SOURCECPU-CAPABLE

What is LM Studio?

A polished desktop app for discovering, downloading, and chatting with local LLMs. Built on llama.cpp + MLX. Includes an OpenAI-compatible local server — drop-in for apps expecting OpenAI.

Pros & cons

✓ PROS

  • Beautiful UI
  • Excellent Apple Silicon (MLX) support
  • Server mode is OpenAI-compatible

– CONS

  • Closed source
  • Commercial use needs a license
  • Big binary

What's actually free?

Free for personal use. Commercial license required for business deployments.

✓ Actually FreeNo SignupWatermark-Free

Alternatives

Jan

Open-source ChatGPT desktop — runs models locally or via API.

OPEN SOURCECPU-CAPABLE