Local / open modelsFree

llama.cpp

The open-source C/C++ engine for running local models, continuously updated.

Official site: github.com ↗

Is it actually free? Free

Free under the MIT license. You build or download it yourself and run it from the command line or as a local server.

Pricing

Free and open source (MIT license).

Best for

Developers who want direct control over running models locally.

Not great for

Beginners who want a one-click app.

Alternatives

Local / open modelsFree

Ollama

Runs open models on your own computer with one command, on Mac, Windows and Linux.

Free? Free to download and use under the MIT license. Latest release checked: v0.40.4 (October 12, 2026). Model speed depends on your computer.

Local / open modelsFree

LM Studio

Desktop app to download and run local models, with a local API.

Free? The desktop app is free for personal and internal business use under its app terms; it is not open source. The optional Bionic+ plan ($20/month) adds …

Last checked 2026-10-14 · Source: github.com pricing ↗ · github.com pricing ↗ · How we verify · Report an error