LM Studio
Easiest way to try home AI: a desktop app, works fully offline once a model is downloaded.
Visit LM Studio ↗Which AI should I use? / Running AI on your own computer vs cloud AI
⚖️ Running AI on your own computer vs cloud AI
“Should I run AI on my own computer with Ollama or LM Studio, or just use ChatGPT and the others?”
Short answer: For most people, cloud AI like Grok, ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude is smarter and easier, so start there. Run AI on your own computer with LM Studio or Ollama if privacy matters most to you and you have a strong computer: LM Studio is the friendlier app with no terminal needed, and Ollama is better if you want home AI to power other apps. Home models are usually a step behind the top online ones.
Ollama
Best if you want home AI to plug into other apps and agents; a little more technical.
Visit Ollama ↗Grok
Cloud pick for everyday use: smarter, nothing to install, real-time info.
Visit Grok ↗Side by side
| LM Studio | Ollama | Grok | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where your chats go | Stay on your computer when using local models | Stay on your computer when running locally | The company's servers |
| Computer you need | 16GB+ memory recommended; Apple Silicon Mac or modern PC | Enough memory for the model you pick | Any phone or computer |
| Works offline | Yes, after downloading a model | Yes, for local models | No |
| How smart | Good, usually a step behind the top online AI | Good, usually a step behind the top online AI | Top tier |
| Ease | Click and chat | Some typing commands | Easiest |
Tips
- Check your computer's memory first; the AI has to fit in it.
- Start with a small model; model files are several gigabytes.
- Download only from the official LM Studio or Ollama websites.
- Read each model's license before using it for business.
Try this first prompt
My computer is a [model] with [amount] of memory. In plain English, tell me whether it can run home AI with LM Studio or Ollama, what size of model would fit, and what I'd give up compared with an online AI. Show your math simply. Stop after that.
Step-by-step guides
Run models on your own machine
I want AI that runs offline, free per-token, and private.
3 toolsMove your setup between AI tools and models
I hit usage limits, or a cheaper or better model came out.
4 tools · 3-step recipe · copy-ready promptSources
Plans and features change often — check the maker's site. Picks are editorial and never for sale. Not advice.