OpenLLM vs Xinference
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
OpenLLM
Run any open LLM as an OpenAI-compatible API endpoint
VS
Xinference
Distributed inference framework for LLMs and embeddings
| Feature | OpenLLM | Xinference |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Self-Hosted AI |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 8,192 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal | docker, kubernetes, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 12,452 | ★ 9,483 |
| First released | 2023 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenAI API | OpenAI API, Hugging Face Inference Endpoints |
Why pick each one
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
Choose Xinference if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 9.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenLLM or Xinference better?
Neither is universally better. OpenLLM has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are OpenLLM and Xinference free and open-source?
Yes. OpenLLM is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Xinference under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenLLM and Xinference with Docker?
OpenLLM: yes. Xinference: yes.