llama.cpp vs Ollama
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
Ollama
Run large language models locally with a simple CLI and API
| Feature | llama.cpp | Ollama |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | C++ | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal, docker | docker, binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 123,039 | ★ 178,027 |
| First released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API | ChatGPT, 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++
Frequently asked questions
Is llama.cpp or Ollama better?
Ollama is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider llama.cpp if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are llama.cpp and Ollama free and open-source?
Yes. llama.cpp is licensed under MIT and Ollama under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run llama.cpp and Ollama with Docker?
llama.cpp: yes. Ollama: yes.