LM Studio 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?
LM Studio
Desktop app to discover, download, and run local LLMs
VS
New API
Next-gen LLM gateway and AI asset management system
| Feature | LM Studio | New API |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | Proprietary | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 5,000 | ★ 44,636 |
| First released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Replaces | ChatGPT | OpenRouter, OpenAI API |
Why pick each one
Choose LM Studio if…
- Released under the Proprietary license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 5k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
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 LM Studio or New API better?
Neither is universally better. New API has the larger community, while LM Studio is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are LM Studio and New API free and open-source?
Yes. LM Studio is licensed under Proprietary and New API under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LM Studio and New API with Docker?
LM Studio: check the project docs for container support. New API: yes.