FastChat vs LLMKube
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
LLMKube
Kubernetes operator for llama.cpp-native LLM inference with GPU
| Feature | FastChat | LLMKube |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, kubernetes |
| GitHub stars | ★ 39,516 | ★ 186 |
| First released | 2023 | 2026 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API | — |
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 LLMKube if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is FastChat or LLMKube better?
Neither is universally better. FastChat has the larger community, while LLMKube is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are FastChat and LLMKube free and open-source?
Yes. FastChat is licensed under Apache-2.0 and LLMKube under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FastChat and LLMKube with Docker?
FastChat: yes. LLMKube: yes.