Ollama
One-command local LLM runtime.
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 VRAMRuns locally
Actually FreeNo SignupOpen SourceWatermark-FreeHobbyist-FriendlyAPI
Visit Text Generation WebUIUpdated 2026-04-26 · Direct link
Hardware requirements
Runs locally · High-end GPU (16–24 GB)
Min VRAM
6 GB
Rec. VRAM
24 GB
Min RAM
16 GB
Rec. RAM
64 GB
Disk
100 GB
GPU class
High-end GPU
CUDA recommended; MetalApple Silicon ✓CPU-CapableQuant: GGUF, EXL2, AWQ +2
EXL2 on 24 GB cards is the sweet spot for 70B Q3.
Screenshot placeholder · Text Generation WebUI
What is Text Generation WebUI?
Oobabooga's gradio UI for local LLMs. Supports llama.cpp, ExLlamaV2, Transformers, and more. The go-to power-user chat front-end for hobbyists running quantized 70B models on consumer GPUs.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Switches between every loader (GGUF, EXL2, HF)
- Tons of community extensions
- Best place to use EXL2 quants
Cons
- Gradio UI feels heavy
- Setup more complex than Ollama
What's actually free?
Free / OSS.
✓ Actually FreeNo SignupOpen SourceWatermark-Free
Alternatives
LM Studio
Desktop GUI for running local LLMs.
FreemiumCPU-capable
Actually FreeNo SignupWatermark-FreeHobbyist-Friendly