KoboldCpp vs llama.cpp
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?
KoboldCpp
Single-file local LLM runner for text and storytelling
VS
llama.cpp
High-performance LLM inference in plain C/C++
| Feature | KoboldCpp | llama.cpp |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | C++ | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary, bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,358 | ★ 123,039 |
| First released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Replaces | ChatGPT | OpenAI API |
Why pick each one
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++
Choose llama.cpp if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 123k GitHub stars
- Written in C++
Frequently asked questions
Is KoboldCpp or llama.cpp better?
Neither is universally better. llama.cpp 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 KoboldCpp and llama.cpp free and open-source?
Yes. KoboldCpp is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and llama.cpp under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KoboldCpp and llama.cpp with Docker?
KoboldCpp: check the project docs for container support. llama.cpp: yes.