New API vs Wllama
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted local llm runners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | New API | Wllama |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 48,815 | ★ 1,309 |
| First released | 2024 | 2024 |
| Replaces | OpenRouter, OpenAI API | OpenAI API |
What are New API and Wllama?
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
Wllama
Wllama is an open-source WebAssembly binding for llama.cpp that allows large language models to run entirely inside the browser. It can be hosted as a static site to provide fully client-side AI inference.
- Browser-based inference
- WebAssembly powered
- No server needed
- Static site deployable
New API vs Wllama: key differences
New API is written in Go, while Wllama is built with TypeScript. New API has the considerably larger community, at 48,815 GitHub stars versus 1,309. New API lists first-class Docker deployment; Wllama does not.
Why pick each one
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
Choose Wllama if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (1.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is New API or Wllama better?
Neither is universally better. New API has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are New API and Wllama free and open-source?
Yes. New API is licensed under MIT and Wllama under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run New API and Wllama with Docker?
New API: yes. Wllama: check the project docs for container support.