Llama Stack vs vLLM
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Llama Stack
Composable API server for building generative AI applications
VS
vLLM
High-throughput LLM serving engine with PagedAttention
| Feature | Llama Stack | vLLM |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Self-Hosted AI | Local LLM Runners |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 16,384 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,421 | ★ 88,482 |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API | OpenAI API |
Why pick each one
Choose Llama Stack if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 8.4k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Choose vLLM if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 88.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Llama Stack or vLLM better?
Neither is universally better. vLLM has the larger community, while Llama Stack is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Llama Stack and vLLM free and open-source?
Yes. Llama Stack is licensed under MIT and vLLM under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Llama Stack and vLLM with Docker?
Llama Stack: yes. vLLM: yes.