LM Studio
Desktop app for finding, downloading and chatting with open models on your computer, which can also serve them through an OpenAI-compatible local API.
- Free plan
- Verified free plan
- Paid from
- Not yet confirmed
- Known for
- LM Link, LM Studio Bionic, llmster
- Facts last checked
- 2026-10-11
What makes LM Studio different
Desktop app for running and serving local language models
01
LM Link
Preview feature: links your own devices over an encrypted network so one can use another's loaded models.
Use it for: Using a home desktop's graphics card from your laptop or iPhone.
How to start
- Find the LM Link icon in LM Studio, just above the Settings gear icon
- Log in; a link is created for you the first time
- Add another device to your link
No plan limit statedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-1102
LM Studio Bionic
Separate agent app for coding, research and document work with local, linked or cloud open models.
Use it for: Handing multi-step coding or document tasks to an agent.
How to start
- Download LM Studio Bionic
- Create a new Project, give it a name and click Create
- Select a model in the new session
- Tell the agent what you'd like to do
No plan limit statedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-1103
llmster
The core of LM Studio packaged as a background service without the desktop window.
Use it for: Serving local models from a server, cloud machine or CI.
How to start
- On Mac or Linux run curl -fsSL https://lmstudio.ai/install.sh | bash; on Windows run irm https://lmstudio.ai/install.ps1 | iex
- Start it with lms daemon up
No plan limit statedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-1104
MCP servers
Connects local or remote MCP servers so your local models can call their tools.
Use it for: Giving a local model tools such as search or file access.
How to start
- Switch to the Program tab in the right hand sidebar
- Click Install > Edit mcp.json
- Add MCP servers by editing the mcp.json file
No plan limit statedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11
Privacy and your data
What happens to what you type, upload or make, from the provider's privacy and terms pages. Business plans often differ; the plan is named under each answer.
- Use at workWhether the app may be used at work or in a company, as its licence or terms state.
- Allowed: the licence covers personal and internal business use, and no separate commercial licence is needed since July 2025.lmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11
Cost
- Free planA free plan that is not time-limited. Trials are listed separately.
- Supportedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11
Free plan
Plans
Free
Free plan
- $0.00 / month
All features7 questions, each with its source and the date we checked it
AI models
- AI modelsThe AI models the official pages name for this product. Line-ups change often, so check the date.
- Qwen, Mistral, Gemma, gpt-oss, Llama, DeepSeeklmstudio.ai +1checked 2026-10-11
Input and output
- Chat windowComes with a desktop chat window, not only a command line.
- Supportedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Workflow
- Local APIServes models through an API on your computer that other apps can use.
- Supportedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Requirements
- Operating systemsmacOS, Windows or Linux, as officially supported.
- macOS, Windows, Linuxlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11
- Open sourceThe tool's own code is published under an open-source licence.
- Not supportedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
- Works offlineRuns without an internet connection once a model is downloaded.
- Supportedlmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
- HardwareWhat computer it needs or supports, such as memory or graphics cards, as officially stated.
- Macs need an Apple silicon chip (M1 to M4) and macOS 14 or newer; 16 GB of memory or more is recommended. Windows on x64 (with AVX2) or ARM; 16 GB of memory and 4 GB of dedicated graphics memory recommended.lmstudio.aichecked 2026-10-11