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LM Studio
What LM Studio is
LM Studio is software for downloading and running large language models on a computer. It combines a chat interface with a programmable API, and supports llama.cpp models on Mac, Windows, and Linux, plus MLX models on Apple Silicon Macs. After a model is downloaded, chats can continue offline. Prompts sent to local models, chat histories, and documents processed locally remain on the device under the desktop app privacy policy. Users can chat with documents on the machine and serve local models through OpenAI-like endpoints on localhost or a local network. Developer access includes TypeScript and Python SDKs, a REST API, OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic-compatible endpoints, and the lms command-line tool. Integrations include Claude Code, Codex, Hermes Agent, and OpenClaw, with external tools connectable through MCP and OAuth authorization. LM Studio has a free plan, Bionic+ at $20 a month, and Pro at $100 a month. Cloud inference is US-hosted with Zero Data Retention.
Who it suits
It suits people who want local model chats, document conversations, offline use, or developer APIs. Teams can also use listed integrations, MCP tools, and centralized billing for inference credits.
What it does well
- Runs llama.cpp and MLX models
- Supports offline local chats
- Includes document chat on-device
- Offers SDKs, REST, and CLI
- Free plan available
What to know first
- Free plan has limited web search
- macOS requires version 14 or newer
- At least 16 GB RAM recommended
- Paid plans cost 20.00 or 100.00 USD monthly
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Bionic Agent · local LLMs with llama.cpp and MLX · offline voice transcription · LM Link for up to 5 devices · limited web search | Free |
| Bionic+ | Everything in Free · US-hosted open source models · discounted bulk tokens · web search and page extraction | $20 a month |
| Pro | Everything in Bionic+ · 5× usage limits · discounted bulk tokens · early access to new features | $100 a month |
As lmstudio.ai lists them, read 7 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
LM Studio combines local model use, offline document chat, and several developer interfaces in one desktop product. Check platform requirements and plan limits before choosing cloud features or higher usage.
Facts from LM Studio's own pages
- Cloud hosting
- The pricing page says Bionic cloud inference is US-hosted and uses Zero Data Retention. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Developer interfaces
- LM Studio provides TypeScript and Python SDKs, a REST API, OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic-compatible endpoints, and the lms CLI. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Document chat
- Users can chat with documents locally, and document processing is performed on the machine. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- File uploads
- Yes · lmstudio.ai, 20 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · lmstudio.ai, 20 Sept 2026
- Headless use
- llmster is a headless daemon intended for servers, cloud instances, and CI environments. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- LM Studio lists Claude Code, Codex, Hermes Agent, and OpenClaw as integrations, and supports connecting external tools through MCP. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Local server
- LM Studio can serve local models on localhost or a local network through OpenAI-like endpoints. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- MCP authentication
- LM Studio supports OAuth for MCP integrations and makes connected service tools available to models after browser authorization. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Mobile apps
- Yes · lmstudio.ai, 20 Sept 2026
- Model runtimes
- LM Studio supports llama.cpp models on Mac, Windows, and Linux, and MLX models on Apple Silicon Macs. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Offline use
- After downloading a model, users can chat with it offline, and prompts entered while chatting with local models stay on the device. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The desktop app privacy policy says local chats, chat histories, and documents are not transmitted from the device, while cloud requests are processed transiently and not retained after completion. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- LM Studio lets users download and run large language models on their computers through a chat interface and programmable API. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Paid from
- 20 · lmstudio.ai, 20 Sept 2026
- System requirements
- LM Studio requires macOS 14 or newer on Apple Silicon Macs, and recommends at least 16 GB RAM for Mac and Windows systems. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Team billing
- The pricing page says teams can use centralized billing for inference credits and that subscription plans for teams are coming soon. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Team workspace
- Yes · lmstudio.ai, 20 Sept 2026
- Usage limits
- The Free plan includes LM Link for up to five devices and limited web search; Pro includes five times the usage limits of Bionic+. · lmstudio.ai, 7 Oct 2026
- Web search
- Yes · lmstudio.ai, 20 Sept 2026
Where LM Studio stands on Freedom251
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