LMDeploy vs OpenLLM
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted local llm runners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | LMDeploy | OpenLLM |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 92 · Excellent | 81 · Excellent |
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 16,384 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,097 | ★ 12,547 |
| First released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API, Hugging Face Inference Endpoints | OpenAI API |
What are LMDeploy and OpenLLM?
LMDeploy
LMDeploy is an inference and serving toolkit from the OpenMMLab ecosystem for deploying large language models efficiently. It offers quantization, a high-throughput serving engine, and an OpenAI-compatible API.
- High-throughput inference engine
- Weight quantization support
- OpenAI-compatible serving
- Multi-GPU deployment
OpenLLM
OpenLLM lets developers run open-source large language models as OpenAI-compatible API endpoints with a single command. It is built on BentoML and supports streaming, quantization, and easy deployment.
- One-command model serving
- OpenAI-compatible API
- Built-in chat UI
- Cloud deployment via BentoML
LMDeploy vs OpenLLM: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. OpenLLM is the lighter option, starting around 8,192 MB of RAM against 16,384 MB for LMDeploy.
Why pick each one
Choose LMDeploy if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 8.1k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Choose OpenLLM if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 12.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is LMDeploy or OpenLLM better?
OpenLLM 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 OpenLLM free and open-source?
Yes. LMDeploy is licensed under Apache-2.0 and OpenLLM under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run LMDeploy and OpenLLM with Docker?
LMDeploy: yes. OpenLLM: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, LMDeploy or OpenLLM?
OpenLLM has the smaller minimum footprint at 8,192 MB of RAM, compared to about 16,384 MB for LMDeploy. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.