LocalAI
OpenAI-compatible API for LLMs, vision, voice and images on any hardware.
Quick answer
LocalAI is an openAI-compatible API for LLMs, vision, voice and images on any hardware, listed under Local model runtimes. A typical small-business use: swap the OpenAI base URL in existing tools for a private endpoint. The project publishes no official RAM figure, so we do not estimate a monthly server cost. License: MIT, which allows internal business use.
Last updated · facts verified against official docs on · sources
Activity data comes from GitHub and was last refreshed Oct 22, 2026.
What is LocalAI?
LocalAI is a drop-in replacement for the OpenAI API that runs text, image, audio and video models locally. A small core pulls backend images (llama.cpp, vLLM, whisper.cpp, stable-diffusion and others) only when a model needs them. A GPU is optional.
Where it fits in a 10–200 person business
- Swap the OpenAI base URL in existing tools for a private endpoint
- Transcription and text-to-speech next to chat models on one server
- CPU-only inference on an existing server
These use cases are our editorial suggestions, not claims made by the project.
Can a business use LocalAI? (license)
| License | MIT |
|---|---|
| Type | Permissive: MIT / Apache-2.0: use, modify and sell with few obligations. |
| Internal business use | Allowed under the license text |
| What to watch | Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed. Models keep their own licenses. |
This is a plain-English summary of the license text, not legal advice. Third-party models you run with it have their own licenses.
What hardware does LocalAI need?
The project does not publish a minimum CPU/RAM figure, so we leave it blank rather than guess.
GPU: Optional. Images exist for NVIDIA CUDA 12/13, AMD ROCm, Intel oneAPI and CPU-only.
No official RAM figures. Needs depend on the models you load.
Source: github.com/mudler/LocalAI#readme
How much does it cost to host LocalAI per month?
The project publishes no RAM figure we could verify, so we do not estimate a cost.
How to deploy LocalAI
Method: Docker
docker run -ti --name local-ai -p 8080:8080 localai/localai:latest
# NVIDIA: localai/localai:latest-gpu-nvidia-cuda-12 with --gpus allFrom the official instructions: github.com/mudler/LocalAI#readme. Always check the source for the current version before you run it.
Known gotchas when self-hosting LocalAI
- Pick the image that matches your accelerator (CPU, CUDA 12, CUDA 13, ROCm, Intel). The GPU images also need the matching --gpus or --device flags. source
Alternatives in Local model runtimes
- Ollama The simplest way to download and run open-weight LLMs locally behind an API. Compare LocalAI vs Ollama
- vLLM High-throughput LLM inference server for GPUs with an OpenAI-compatible API. Compare LocalAI vs vLLM
LocalAI FAQ
How much RAM does LocalAI need?
LocalAI does not publish an official RAM figure, so we do not state one. Needs depend on the models you load.
Does LocalAI need a GPU?
Optional. Images exist for NVIDIA CUDA 12/13, AMD ROCm, Intel oneAPI and CPU-only.
How much does it cost to self-host LocalAI?
The software is free to download. The project publishes no official RAM figure, so we do not estimate a monthly server cost.
Is LocalAI free for commercial use?
LocalAI is licensed under MIT (Permissive). Internal business use is allowed under the license text. Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed. Models keep their own licenses. This is a summary, not legal advice.
What are common problems when self-hosting LocalAI?
Pick the image that matches your accelerator (CPU, CUDA 12, CUDA 13, ROCm, Intel). The GPU images also need the matching --gpus or --device flags.
Is LocalAI still maintained?
Yes, it is actively developed. Last commit: Oct 21, 2026. Latest release: v4.11.0 (Oct 2, 2026). Checked Oct 22, 2026.
How do I install LocalAI?
The official method is Docker. The exact commands are in the "How to deploy" section above and in the official instructions: https://github.com/mudler/LocalAI#readme
What are self-hosted alternatives to LocalAI?
Other apps in Local model runtimes: Ollama, vLLM.
Sources
- GitHub repository: github.com/mudler/LocalAI
- Official documentation, Hardware requirements, Deploy instructions, Gotcha 1: github.com/mudler/LocalAI#readme
- License text: github.com/mudler/LocalAI/blob/master/LICENSE
- Hetzner Cloud pricing (cost estimate): www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance
- GitHub stars, commits and releases: GitHub REST API, fetched
Facts on this page were checked against the project's own repository and docs on 2026-10-22. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.