GitHub Repo · Local & Private AI
LocalAI
A self-hosted, OpenAI-compatible server for text, image and voice models.
What LocalAI does
LocalAI runs open models for chat, image generation, transcription and text-to-speech on your own hardware and exposes an API compatible with OpenAI's, so many existing AI tools can point to it instead of a paid cloud service.
Best for
- Replacing cloud AI APIs with self-hosted ones
- Running several model types on one server
- Privacy-sensitive businesses with IT help
How small businesses use LocalAI
- Back internal tools with a private AI API
- Transcribe recordings on your own server
- Generate images without a cloud subscription
LocalAI: common questions
Who should use LocalAI?
LocalAI suits replacing cloud AI APIs with self-hosted ones, running several model types on one server and privacy-sensitive businesses with IT help.
When should you choose something else instead of LocalAI?
Setup is advanced and needs someone comfortable with servers and model configuration. If that matters for your business, compare other options such as Ollama, Jan and Open WebUI.
Is LocalAI free?
LocalAI pricing: Free and open source. Pricing changes often, so confirm current plans on the official repository or website before you buy.
Can a small business self-host LocalAI?
Yes. LocalAI is open source on GitHub, and its setup level is advanced. You will need a computer or server to run it and someone to keep it updated and backed up, or you can use a hosted option if one is offered.
Other options in Local & Private AI
Run open AI models like Llama, Gemma and Qwen on your own computer.
A desktop app that runs AI models offline on your own computer.
A ChatGPT-style interface for local and cloud models, self-hosted.
All-in-one desktop and server app to chat with your documents privately.
Fast local inference engine for open language models.