Running LLMs Locally
Running LLMs locally guarantees absolute privacy. To load and query GGUF models offline, developers use either Ollama or LM Studio. This article compares their CLI vs GUI paradigms to help you choose the best local runner.
Key Takeaway: Ollama is built for headless terminal serving, while LM Studio provides a rich interactive desktop app.
Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Ollama | LM Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | CLI / API Daemon | Desktop GUI Client |
| Model Source | Ollama Library | Hugging Face Search |
| Server Mode | Background service | On-demand local host |
Conclusion
Choose Ollama for running APIs behind coding extensions. Use LM Studio for testing new models from Hugging Face visually.


