LM Studio
Inference & Compute · Free + paid
Desktop app for discovering, downloading, and running open-weight LLMs locally
At a glance
- Made by
- Element Labs, Inc.
- Korean
- None (English and a few others only)
- API
- Yes
- Available on
- CLI, API
What is LM Studio?
LM Studio Bionic is an agent for open models that helps with work and coding, running locally by default. When you create and edit agents and documents, changes are saved automatically, and you can also hand off coding, automation, and computer-control tasks. You download the latest local LLMs inside the app and run them on the LM Studio runtime, which is based on MLX and llama.cpp. It says optional cloud inference is hosted in the US with zero data retention (ZDR).
- Bionic agent: document writing and editing (auto-save), coding, automation, and computer control
- Local real-time voice dictation (multiple languages supported)
- Download and run local LLMs in the app (MLX, llama.cpp)
- Run frontier open models such as GLM, Kimi, and DeepSeek
- LM Link (free, up to 5 devices)
- Zero data retention (ZDR) for cloud services
- lmstudio-js and lmstudio-python SDKs and CLI (lms) for developers
Who uses LM Studio and for what
- Individuals doing document work, coding, and automation with local open models
- Privacy-conscious users dictating speech on their own device
Pricing
What you get for free — Available (Bionic Agent, local LLM execution, LM Link up to 5 devices, limited web search)
| Plan | Price | Main limits |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | Local LLMs, Bionic Agent, up to 5 devices with LM Link, limited web search |
| Bionic+ | $20/mo | US-hosted open-source models, bulk token discounts, web search and page extraction |
| Pro | $100/mo | 5x the usage limits of Bionic+, early access to new features |
Checked on the official pages on 2026-10-14. Prices and features can change, so check the official site again before paying. · Official pricing page
AI tools similar to LM Studio (alternatives)
LM Studio vs. alternatives at a glance
| AI | Pricing | Combos on the map | Connected tools | Free | Cheapest monthly | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LM Studio | Free + paid | 0 | 6 | Yes | $20/mo | No |
| EXO | Free | 0 | 6 | — | — | No |
| FastChat | Free + paid | 0 | 6 | — | — | — |
| ollama | Free + paid | 0 | 6 | Yes | $20/mo | — |
| Open WebUI | Free + paid | 0 | 5 | — | — | No |
2 of these 5 tools have a free plan. Cheapest paid plan: LM Studio ($20/mo).
Combo and connection counts are based on the relationships recorded on AI Galaxy Map (2026-10-26); they are not a quality ranking.
LM Studio on AI Galaxy Map
- One of 43 AI tools in the Inference & Compute field.
- Connected to 6 other tools — #6 in its field.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use LM Studio for free?
Available (Bionic Agent, local LLM execution, LM Link up to 5 devices, limited web search). Prices can change, so check the official site before paying.
What AI can I use instead of LM Studio?
Tools that do the same job, such as EXO, FastChat, ollama, Open WebUI, are connected to it on the map.
Can I use LM Studio in Korean?
None (English and a few others only)
Sources (official pages)
Checked on the official pages on 2026-10-14. Prices and features can change, so check the official site again before paying.