LM Studio
By Element Labs · lmstudio.ai
4,0 Very good
The easiest way to run AI models locally: sleek graphical interface, built-in model catalogue and chat view. Free also for business use since 2025.
Best for: The beginner who wants to try local AI without touching the terminal.
Pros
- Graphical interface: download model and chat directly
- Built-in catalogue of quantised models
- Clearly shows which models your computer can handle
Cons
- Paid Teams/Enterprise plans required for SSO and private sharing
- Not open source
- American company (data stays local, however)
Quick facts
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Origin | Outside EU (Element Labs) |
| Categories | Local AI |
| EU data storage | No |
| GDPR terms (DPA) | No |
Sources & evidence
Claims about data storage, jurisdiction and compliance should be verifiable. Here is the evidence behind the statements above:
- LM Studio – Homepage (run AI models locally and privately, free) →
- LM Studio – Blog: Free for work (free for business use since July 2025, Enterprise with SSO) →
- LM Studio – Work (Teams and Enterprise offers for businesses) →