Enchanted vs Serge
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted local llm runners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Enchanted | Serge |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Swift | Svelte |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 6,002 | ★ 5,708 |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | ChatGPT | ChatGPT |
What are Enchanted and Serge?
Enchanted
Enchanted is an open-source, privacy-focused app that connects to a self-hosted Ollama server from Apple devices. It provides a native chat experience for private local models on the go.
- Native Apple app
- Connects to private Ollama
- Conversation history
- Prompt completions
Serge
Serge is a self-hosted chat interface for running LLaMA-family models entirely offline. It bundles llama.cpp with a clean web UI and requires no remote APIs or accounts.
- No API keys required
- Bundled llama.cpp
- Simple Docker deploy
- Fully offline
Enchanted vs Serge: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Serge's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Enchanted is actively maintained. Enchanted is written in Swift, while Serge is built with Svelte. Enchanted is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 8,192 MB for Serge. Serge lists first-class Docker deployment; Enchanted does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Enchanted if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 6k GitHub stars
- Written in Swift
Choose Serge if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 5.7k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Enchanted or Serge better?
Neither is universally better. Enchanted has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Enchanted and Serge free and open-source?
Yes. Enchanted is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Serge under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Enchanted and Serge with Docker?
Enchanted: check the project docs for container support. Serge: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Enchanted or Serge?
Enchanted has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 8,192 MB for Serge. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.