FastChat vs OpenLLM
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
OpenLLM
Run any open LLM as an OpenAI-compatible API endpoint
| Feature | FastChat | OpenLLM |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 39,516 | ★ 12,452 |
| First released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API | 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 OpenLLM if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 12.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is FastChat or OpenLLM better?
Neither is universally better. FastChat has the larger community, while OpenLLM is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are FastChat and OpenLLM free and open-source?
Yes. FastChat is licensed under Apache-2.0 and OpenLLM under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run FastChat and OpenLLM with Docker?
FastChat: yes. OpenLLM: yes.