Side by side
LM Studio vs Ollama
A fact-based comparison built only from each tool's verified directory profile — pricing summaries, plan availability, platforms, and stated strengths and limitations. No rankings, no sponsored placement.
| Criterion | LM Studio | Ollama |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local & Self-Hosted AI | Local & Self-Hosted AI |
| In one sentence | Desktop app for downloading and running open models locally, with a local API server and an agent called Bionic. | Open-source tool for running open models on your own computer, with optional paid cloud models. |
| Problem it solves | Running local AI models without command-line setup, and keeping data on your own device. | Running language models privately on your own hardware without complex setup. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Developer API | Yes — docs | Yes — docs |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Platforms | macOS (Apple Silicon), Windows (x64, ARM64), Linux (x64) | macOS, Windows, Linux, Docker |
| Pricing (summary) | Free plan covers running local models, the Bionic agent and LM Link for up to 5 devices. Bionic+ is $20/month and Pro $100/month for hosted open models and higher limits. Team subscriptions are listed as coming soon. Checked 2026-10-19 | Local use is free and unlimited. Cloud plans: Pro $20/month ($200/year) with $60 monthly usage, Max $100/month with $300, Team $500/month (early access) with $1,000 shared; Enterprise is custom. Extra credits can be bought on any plan. Checked 2026-10-19 |
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How to choose
Both profiles link to the vendors' official pricing — plan details change often, so verify there before buying. Pick based on the criterion rows above that matter to your workflow, not on rankings: we don't rank tools, because the right choice depends on your needs.