exo vs One API
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted local llm runners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
exo
Run your own AI cluster across everyday devices
VS
One API
Unified OpenAI-compatible gateway for many LLM providers
| Feature | exo | One API |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 46,708 | ★ 36,253 |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API | OpenAI API, OpenRouter |
Why pick each one
Choose exo if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Mature project with 46.7k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Choose One API if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 36.3k GitHub stars
- Written in JavaScript
Frequently asked questions
Is exo or One API better?
Neither is universally better. exo has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are exo and One API free and open-source?
Yes. exo is licensed under GPL-3.0 and One API under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run exo and One API with Docker?
exo: check the project docs for container support. One API: yes.