LM Studio
LM Studio is a desktop application for running large language models locally, with optional paid access to hosted open-weight models.
Free tierfrom $20/moVerified
Our verdict
A polished desktop app for downloading and running local models, with a local server for your tools. Friendlier than the command line; not open source.
Best for
- ✓ A GUI for local models
- ✓ Testing many open-weight models
Watch out for
- ! The app itself is not open source
Pricing
Read from the official pricing page. Prices in USD; always confirm on the vendor's site.
| Plan | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Run local LLMs via llama.cpp and MLX, offline voice transcription, LM Link for up to 5 devices, limited web search |
| Bionic+ | $20/mo | US-hosted open-source models, discounted bulk tokens, web search and page extraction |
| Pro | $100/mo | Everything in Bionic+ with 5x usage limits and early access to features |
Note: Official pages do not state commercial-use terms or an app license; app recorded as not open source because no open-source license is stated. Team plans 'coming soon'.
Featured in
- AlternativeBest open-source and local AI stack