llamafile 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.
| Feature | llamafile | New API |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 97 · Excellent | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | C++ | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 26,042 | ★ 48,815 |
| First released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API, ChatGPT | OpenRouter, OpenAI API |
What are llamafile and New API?
llamafile
llamafile is a Mozilla project that turns large language model weights into a single cross-platform executable. It bundles llama.cpp with a model so an LLM can be run and served locally with no installation step.
- Single-file LLM distribution
- Runs on six operating systems
- OpenAI-compatible API server
- No installation required
New API
New API is a large-model interface management and distribution system derived from One API, providing an OpenAI-compatible gateway with richer billing, rendering and provider support. It is designed for running a self-hosted AI relay service.
- OpenAI-compatible relay
- Multi-provider channels
- Detailed billing
- Modern dashboard
llamafile vs New API: key differences
Llamafile is written in C++, while New API is built with Go. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for llamafile versus MIT for New API. New API is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 8,192 MB for llamafile. New API lists first-class Docker deployment; llamafile does not.
Why pick each one
Choose llamafile if…
- Extremely portable
- Fast startup
Watch out for
- Large file sizes for big models
Choose New API if…
- OpenAI-compatible gateway
- Broad provider support
- Built-in billing and quotas
Watch out for
- Docs primarily Chinese
- Niche relay use case
Frequently asked questions
Is llamafile or New API better?
Neither is universally better. New API has the larger community, while llamafile is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are llamafile and New API free and open-source?
Yes. llamafile is licensed under Apache-2.0 and New API under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run llamafile and New API with Docker?
llamafile: check the project docs for container support. New API: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, llamafile or New API?
New API has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 8,192 MB for llamafile. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.