KoboldCpp vs LM Studio
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
LM Studio
Desktop app to discover, download, and run local LLMs
| Feature | KoboldCpp | LM Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary |
| Language | C++ | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 11,358 | ★ 5,000 |
| First released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Replaces | ChatGPT | ChatGPT |
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 LM Studio if…
- Released under the Proprietary license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 5k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is KoboldCpp or LM Studio better?
Neither is universally better. KoboldCpp has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are KoboldCpp and LM Studio free and open-source?
Yes. KoboldCpp is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and LM Studio under Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run KoboldCpp and LM Studio with Docker?
KoboldCpp: check the project docs for container support. LM Studio: check the project docs for container support.