Explore Local & Self-Hosted AI
Run AI models on your own hardware with full privacy. 9 tools reviewed with honest pricing, pros and cons, and verified alternatives.
OllamaOpen Source
Pricing: Free
- Run Llama 4, Mistral, Gemma, Phi, and 100+ models locally
- One command to download and run any supported model
- REST API compatible with OpenAI's API format
Use case: Local model runnerVisit
LM StudioPopular
Pricing: Free
- Desktop GUI for downloading and running local LLMs
- Built-in chat interface with no setup required
- Local server with OpenAI-compatible API
Use case: Desktop appVisit
JanOpen Source
Pricing: Free
- Open-source desktop app for local and cloud AI models
- Extensions for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)
- Model hub to browse and download GGUF models
Use case: Desktop appVisit
AnythingLLMOpen Source
Pricing: Free
- Build a private ChatGPT over your own documents
- Supports local models via Ollama and cloud APIs
- Built-in vector database, no external services needed
Use case: RAG platformVisit
Open WebUIOpen Source
Pricing: Free
- Self-hosted ChatGPT-style interface for Ollama and OpenAI
- Multi-user support with user management and permissions
- Document RAG, web search, and tool calling support
Use case: Web interfaceVisit
GPT4AllOpen Source
Pricing: Free
- Simple desktop app for running LLMs without technical setup
- LocalDocs feature for chatting with your own files privately
- Designed for non-technical users who want local AI
Use case: Desktop appVisit
llamafileOpen Source
Pricing: Free
- Entire LLM in a single executable file, no installation
- Runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux with no dependencies
- Browser UI launches automatically when you run the file
Use case: Single executableVisit
LocalAIOpen Source
Pricing: Free
- Drop-in OpenAI API replacement that runs on your own hardware
- Supports LLM inference, image generation, and TTS locally
- No GPU required: runs on CPU with quantized models
Use case: API serverVisit
MstyNew
Pricing: Free
- Desktop app for local and cloud AI with a clean modern UI
- Compare outputs from multiple models side by side
- Works with Ollama and direct API connections
Use case: Desktop appVisit