Use cases/Reviewed 14 Nov 2026
Run models locally
I want to run models on my machine with no cloud required
You want inference on your own hardware for privacy, cost, or offline work, and need a realistic stack: runtime, desktop app, or a self-hosted chat UI.
Want a side-by-side? Use this, not that: running models locally
Shortlist
- 1. OllamaFirst pick
Best default local runtime for most developers: simple CLI/API, open source, and widely supported by other tools.
- 2. LM StudioAlso consider
Best desktop GUI if you want to browse, download, and chat with local models without wiring a stack. The app is free; confirm any cloud/Bionic fees.
- 3. llama.cppAlso consider
Best when you want the underlying GGUF engine and are comfortable at the command line.
- 4. Open WebUIAlso consider
Best self-hosted chat front-end to sit on top of Ollama or other backends.
- 5. JanAlso consider
A solid open-source desktop alternative with a recent v0.8.8 release (28 Oct 2026).
- 6. GPT4AllUsually skip
Still a valid local app, but the last tagged release we found was February 2025. Prefer Ollama, LM Studio, or Jan unless you already use it.