llama.cpp vs New API
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?
llama.cpp
High-performance LLM inference in plain C/C++
VS
New API
Next-gen LLM gateway and AI asset management system
| Feature | llama.cpp | New API |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | C++ | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal, docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 123,039 | ★ 44,636 |
| First released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API | OpenRouter, OpenAI API |
Why pick each one
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++
Choose New API if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 44.6k GitHub stars
- Written in Go
Frequently asked questions
Is llama.cpp or New API better?
Neither is universally better. llama.cpp has the larger community, while New API is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are llama.cpp and New API free and open-source?
Yes. llama.cpp is licensed under MIT and New API under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run llama.cpp and New API with Docker?
llama.cpp: yes. New API: yes.