Which AI tool? · updated
Which AI tool is best for running AI models on your own computer?
Ollama is our top pick for running AI models on your own computer, out of 6 tools we compared. Simplest way to run open models locally from the command line, with an API.
Quick picks
The 6 tools, in order
From official sites- #1 Ollama
- Simplest way to run open models locally from the command line, with an API.Pricing: Free to run models locally, with pay as you go per-token pricing for cloud models and no subscription. Source: ollama.com, checked Official site: ollama.com · Our profile
- #2 LM Studio
- Desktop app to download, chat with and serve local models; very beginner friendly.Pricing: Free at $0 to run local models with llama.cpp and MLX, including the Bionic agent. Source: lmstudio.ai, checked Official site: lmstudio.ai · Our profile
- #3 Jan
- Open-source, offline ChatGPT-style desktop app for local models.Pricing: Free and open source. Source: jan.ai, checked Official site: jan.ai · Our profile
- #4 llama.cpp
- The fast open-source inference engine many local tools build on.License: Open source, MIT License. Source: github.com, checked Official site: github.com · Our profile
- #5 Local Code
- Draw Things' free, open-source (GPL-3.0) agent app for Mac, iPad and iPhone that runs Qwen and DeepSeek models on device, with Python, Node.js and a shell built in and sandboxed. Works offline. Big models need a lot of RAM and disk, and it is Apple only.Pricing: On-device use is $0 per token. Source: getlocalcode.app, checked Official site: getlocalcode.app · Our profile
- #6 Llama app
- Free, open-source menu bar and tray app from the llama.cpp team and Hugging Face. One click downloads a recommended model and serves it on a local OpenAI- and Anthropic-compatible API. The easiest way to use llama.cpp without a terminal.Pricing: Free. Source: llama.app, checked Official site: llama.app · Our profile
Method
How we ordered this list
The list follows the order of our run models locally ranking, limited to the 6 tools that do this job. We rank each tool by how well it does the job for a solo builder or small team, based on official product information. Payment never changes a ranking. How we rank
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Frequently asked
Which AI tool is best for running AI models on your own computer?
Ollama is our top pick for running AI models on your own computer. Simplest way to run open models locally from the command line, with an API. The other 5 we compared: LM Studio, Jan, llama.cpp, Local Code and Llama app.
Which of these tools have a free plan?
Free plan or free tier in our sourced fact sheets: Ollama, LM Studio, Jan, Local Code and Llama app (5 of 6). Prices change, so confirm on the official pricing page before you buy.
Which of these tools are open source?
Open source per their official pages: Ollama, Jan, llama.cpp, Local Code and Llama app.
How is this list ordered?
The list follows the order of our run models locally ranking, limited to the 6 tools that do this job. We rank each tool by how well it does the job for a solo builder or small team, based on official product information. Payment never changes a ranking.
Are any placements sponsored?
Some placements on AI Tool Podium are sponsored. Every sponsored placement is clearly labeled.
When was this page last updated?
This page was last updated on 2026-11-13. Features and prices change often, so check each official site before you buy.
Sources
- Ollama official site: ollama.com
- Ollama pricing source: ollama.com/pricing
- LM Studio official site: lmstudio.ai
- LM Studio pricing source: lmstudio.ai/pricing
- Jan official site: jan.ai
- Jan pricing source: jan.ai
- llama.cpp official site: github.com/ggml-org/llama.cpp
- Local Code official site: getlocalcode.app
- Llama app official site: llama.app
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