Ollama
One-command local LLM runtime.
Open SourceCPU-capable
Actually FreeNo SignupOpen SourceWatermark-Free
LM Studio
Desktop GUI for running local LLMs.
FreemiumCPU-capableRuns locally
Actually FreeNo SignupWatermark-FreeHobbyist-FriendlyAPI
Visit LM StudioUpdated 2026-05-11 · Direct link
Hardware requirements
Runs locally · Mid GPU (12 GB)
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.
Screenshot placeholder · LM Studio
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
Actually FreeNo SignupOpen SourceWatermark-Free
Text Generation WebUI
The "A1111 for LLMs" — multi-loader local chat UI.
Open Source 6–24 GB VRAM
- Min VRAM
- 6 GB
- GPU class
- High-end GPU
- Quant
- GGUF
Actually FreeNo SignupOpen SourceWatermark-Free