FastChat vs KoboldCpp
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?
FastChat
Platform for serving and evaluating large language models
VS
KoboldCpp
Single-file local LLM runner for text and storytelling
| Feature | FastChat | KoboldCpp |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | Apache-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 39,516 | ★ 11,358 |
| First released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API | ChatGPT |
Why pick each one
Choose FastChat if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 39.5k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Choose KoboldCpp if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 11.4k GitHub stars
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is FastChat or KoboldCpp better?
Neither is universally better. FastChat has the larger community, while KoboldCpp is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are FastChat and KoboldCpp free and open-source?
Yes. FastChat is licensed under Apache-2.0 and KoboldCpp under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FastChat and KoboldCpp with Docker?
FastChat: yes. KoboldCpp: check the project docs for container support.