SHSelfHostIndex

New API vs Ollama

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?
NE New API Next-gen LLM gateway and AI asset management system VS OL Ollama Run large language models locally with a simple CLI and API
FeatureNew APIOllama
CategoryLocal LLM RunnersLocal LLM Runners
LicenseMITMIT
LanguageGoGo
Setup difficultyMediumEasy
Min. RAM512 MB8,192 MB
Deploymentdockerdocker, binary, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 44,636★ 178,027
First released20242023
ReplacesOpenRouter, OpenAI APIChatGPT, OpenAI API

Why pick each one

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
New API details

Choose Ollama if…

  • Extremely easy to set up
  • Large model library
Ollama details

Frequently asked questions

Is New API or Ollama better?

Ollama is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider New API if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are New API and Ollama free and open-source?

Yes. New API is licensed under MIT and Ollama under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run New API and Ollama with Docker?

New API: yes. Ollama: yes.

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