LMDeploy 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?
LMDeploy
Toolkit for compressing and serving large language models
VS
New API
Next-gen LLM gateway and AI asset management system
| Feature | LMDeploy | New API |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 16,384 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,998 | ★ 44,636 |
| First released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API, Hugging Face Inference Endpoints | OpenRouter, OpenAI API |
Why pick each one
Choose LMDeploy if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 8k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
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 LMDeploy or New API better?
New API is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider LMDeploy if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are LMDeploy and New API free and open-source?
Yes. LMDeploy is licensed under Apache-2.0 and New API under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LMDeploy and New API with Docker?
LMDeploy: yes. New API: yes.