Ranked 7 of 7 in best local LLM runners
A self-hosted server for text, image, voice and video models, MIT licensed and usable without a GPU. It runs as a server, so it is less direct for a personal chat app.
Best for Self-hosted AI server for several model types
About LocalAI
LocalAI is a self-hosted AI engine that runs large language, vision, voice, image and video models. Its repository describes it as runnable on any hardware with no GPU required, and it is described as an open-source alternative to hosted AI APIs. The project's author is Ettore Di Giacinto, and the team maintains it on GitHub.
The repository is MIT licensed, and the README is available in several languages. Because LocalAI is a server, it suits developers and teams who host models on their own machines rather than people who want a desktop chat app. For a chat window, Jan or GPT4All in this category are a more direct fit.
Key features
- Text, vision, voice and image models
- Self-hosted server
- No GPU required
- MIT license
Strengths
- Runs many model types on one server
- MIT license with source on GitHub
- Works without a GPU, according to its README
Limits
- Server setup is needed before first use
- Not a chat app for everyday desktop use
Where LocalAI ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Local LLM runners | 7 of 7 | 79.0 | Self-hosted AI server for several model types |
Alternatives to LocalAI
All 6 alternatives
Questions about LocalAI
- Is LocalAI free?
- LocalAI can be used without paying: Free and open source under the MIT license. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
- Is LocalAI open source?
- Yes. LocalAI publishes its source code under the MIT license.
- Which platforms does LocalAI support?
- LocalAI is available on: Self-hosted.
- What is LocalAI best for?
- Self-hosted AI server for several model types. In our ranking of local LLM runners it is number 7 of 7 with a score of 79.0.
- What are the best alternatives to LocalAI?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Ollama, llama.cpp, LM Studio, GPT4All.