SelfHostMap

GPUStack vs TextGen (text-generation-webui)

Short answer

GPUStack: GPU cluster manager that deploys vLLM, SGLang and other engines behind an OpenAI-compatible API. TextGen (text-generation-webui): Local LLM app (formerly text-generation-webui) with a browser UI, OpenAI/Anthropic-compatible API and LoRA training. Both are in our Local model runtimes category.

Choose GPUStack if you want: fewer license conditions (Permissive vs Network copyleft (AGPL)) and simpler deploy (one container vs a multi-container stack).

Choose TextGen (text-generation-webui) if you want: no GPU server needed and larger community (47.7k vs 5.9k GitHub stars).

TextGen (text-generation-webui) publishes no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.

Last updated · computed from each project's official docs and live GitHub data · sources

GPUStack vs TextGen (text-generation-webui) side by side

GPUStackTextGen (text-generation-webui)
CategoryLocal model runtimesLocal model runtimes
What it isGPU cluster manager that deploys vLLM, SGLang and other engines behind an OpenAI-compatible API.Local LLM app (formerly text-generation-webui) with a browser UI, OpenAI/Anthropic-compatible API and LoRA training.
LicenseApache-2.0AGPL-3.0
License typePermissiveNetwork copyleft (AGPL)
License conditionsPermissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep the Apache-2.0 license and notices. GPUStack Enterprise is a separate commercial edition. Models keep their own licenses.Free for internal and commercial use. If you modify TextGen and let users interact with it over a network, you must offer them the modified source under AGPL-3.0. Models have their own licenses.
StatusActiveActive
GitHub stars5.9k47.7k
Last commitOct 30, 2026Aug 17, 2026
Latest releasev2.3.0v4.9
Minimum hardwareNot publishedNot published
Recommended hardwareNot publishedNot published
RAM measured by usNot tested yetNot tested yet
GPURequired on worker nodes (Linux only): for NVIDIA, a driver supporting CUDA 12.8 or higher plus the NVIDIA Container Toolkit; for AMD, ROCm 7.0 or higher. The GPUStack server itself does not need a GPU.Optional. Docker variants exist for NVIDIA, AMD, Intel Arc (beta) and CPU-only inference; portable builds come in CUDA, Vulkan, ROCm and CPU-only versions.
Est. server costGPU server (not estimated)Not estimated
Deploy methodDockerDocker Compose (built locally from the repo)
Known gotchas4 listed4 listed
TelemetryNot documentedNone (documented)
Calls home by defaultYes, by defaultNo (documented)
SSO (OIDC / SAML / LDAP)Free (OIDC free · SAML free)Not documented
Audit logNot documentedNot documented
RBACBasic free, more in paid planNot documented
DetailsFull GPUStack guide →Full TextGen (text-generation-webui) guide →

Key differences

  • License: GPUStack: Apache-2.0 (Permissive). TextGen (text-generation-webui): AGPL-3.0 (Network copyleft (AGPL)).
  • GPU: GPUStack: needed for practical use. TextGen (text-generation-webui): optional / see notes.
  • Est. server cost: GPUStack: GPU server (not estimated). TextGen (text-generation-webui): not estimated (no official RAM figure).
  • Deploy: GPUStack: Docker · single container. TextGen (text-generation-webui): Docker Compose (built locally from the repo) · multi-container stack.
  • GitHub stars: GPUStack: 5.9k. TextGen (text-generation-webui): 47.7k.
  • Last commit: GPUStack: Oct 30, 2026. TextGen (text-generation-webui): Aug 17, 2026.
  • Latest release: GPUStack: v2.3.0 (Oct 23, 2026). TextGen (text-generation-webui): v4.9 (May 20, 2026).

Same for both: Category: Local model runtimes; Official hardware: not published; Status: Active.

GPUStack vs TextGen (text-generation-webui): FAQ

GPUStack or TextGen (text-generation-webui): which should a small business choose?

Choose GPUStack if you want: fewer license conditions (Permissive vs Network copyleft (AGPL)) and simpler deploy (one container vs a multi-container stack). Choose TextGen (text-generation-webui) if you want: no GPU server needed and larger community (47.7k vs 5.9k GitHub stars). TextGen (text-generation-webui) publishes no official RAM figure, so we cannot compare hosting cost directly.

Which is cheaper to self-host, GPUStack or TextGen (text-generation-webui)?

GPUStack: GPU server (not estimated). TextGen (text-generation-webui): not estimated (no official RAM figure). Our estimate is the cheapest Hetzner Cloud plan that meets each project's official RAM and vCPU figure; it covers the server only.

How much hardware do GPUStack and TextGen (text-generation-webui) need?

GPUStack: not published. TextGen (text-generation-webui): not published. GPUStack needs a GPU for practical use.

What is the license difference between GPUStack and TextGen (text-generation-webui)?

GPUStack: Apache-2.0 (Permissive). Permissive. Internal and commercial use allowed; keep the Apache-2.0 license and notices. GPUStack Enterprise is a separate commercial edition. Models keep their own licenses. TextGen (text-generation-webui): AGPL-3.0 (Network copyleft (AGPL)). Free for internal and commercial use. If you modify TextGen and let users interact with it over a network, you must offer them the modified source under AGPL-3.0. Models have their own licenses. This is a summary, not legal advice.

Is GPUStack or TextGen (text-generation-webui) more actively maintained?

GPUStack: Active, last commit Oct 30, 2026. TextGen (text-generation-webui): Active, last commit Aug 17, 2026. GitHub data refreshed Oct 30, 2026.

Which is easier to deploy, GPUStack or TextGen (text-generation-webui)?

GPUStack installs via Docker (single container); TextGen (text-generation-webui) via Docker Compose (built locally from the repo) (multi-container stack). GPUStack lists 4 known gotchas and TextGen (text-generation-webui) lists 4; see each app page.

Related

Sources

Every value is generated from the same verified data as the app pages. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.