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Ollama vs LM Studio vs Jan (2025): Which Local AI Runner Should You Use?

  • Philip Moses
  • Nov 17
  • 3 min read

Updated: Nov 18

In 2025, more people are switching to local AI runners—tools that let you run AI models offline, directly on your laptop or PC. This shift is happening because users want more privacy, faster responses, and full control over their data.
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👉 In this blog, you’ll learn the differences between Ollama, LM Studio, and Jan—three of the biggest local AI runners of 2025.👉 We compare their speed, ease of use, privacy, hardware needs, and best use cases.

By the end, you’ll know exactly which tool fits your needs.

Why Local AI Runners Are Important in 2025

Running AI offline gives you several advantages:

  • Works without internet — perfect for travel, remote areas, and privacy-focused users.

  • Faster responses — no cloud delays.

  • Complete privacy — your prompts and files stay on your device.

  • More control — choose, tune, and run any model you want.

Local AI tools have become essential for developers, writers, analysts, and anyone who wants private AI productivity.

Ollama vs LM Studio vs Jan: Key Differences (Corrected for 2025)

Feature

Ollama

LM Studio

Jan

  • Speed

⚡ Fastest (API-first, optimized backend)

🚀 Fast (GPU + GUI app)

👍 Good for normal use

  • Ease of Use

CLI-first, but GUIs available via community (Open WebUI)

Easiest GUI

ChatGPT-like UI

  • Privacy

✅ Fully Open-Source

❌ Closed-source (but works offline)

✅ Fully Open-Source

  • Model Support

Strong (CLI, API)

Built-in Model Browser

Clean Model Hub

  • Best For

Developers, API users

Beginners, GUI lovers

Privacy-focused users

✅ Clarification

Ollama and Jan are fully open-source.LM Studio is the only closed-source tool among the three.

1. Performance & Speed (Refined & Accurate)

Ollama — Fastest Overall

  • Optimized backend using llama.cpp

  • Lightweight and CLI-first, meaning lower overhead

  • Excellent token-per-second throughput

  • Great for developers and automation


LM Studio — Fast with GPU Offloading

  • Very fast especially on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4)

  • Smooth performance with a dedicated GPU

  • Slightly slower than Ollama due to GUI overhead


Jan — Good for Chatting

  • Stable performance for everyday use

  • Designed for offline ChatGPT-like experience

  • Not optimized for maximum raw speed like Ollama


Winner (Speed Ranking 2025):

  1. Ollama → Fastest & most optimized

  2. LM Studio → Fast but GUI adds overhead

  3. Jan → Best for simple offline chat

2. Hardware Requirements (Refined)

All three support Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Model Size

RAM Needed

GPU Needed?

  • 3B

8GB

Optional

  • 7B

16GB

Recommended

  • 13B+

32GB+

Required


Both Ollama and LM Studio are highly optimized for Apple Silicon, not just LM Studio. Jan also performs well but is more UI-focused.


Winner: All three have similar requirements—your RAM and GPU decide your limits.

3. Supported AI Models

All three support the most-used models of 2025:

  • LLaMA 3

  • Mistral

  • Gemma

  • Phi

  • Qwen


LM Studio

  • Best for beginners

  • Built-in model browser


Ollama

  • Simple commands like:ollama run llama3

  • Powerful for developers and API integrations


Jan

  • Uses a clean Model Hub

  • Models labeled as “fast,” “balanced,” or “high-quality”


Winner:

  • Beginners: LM Studio

  • Control: Ollama & Jan

4. Ease of Use (Updated & Accurate)

LM Studio — Best Overall GUI

  • Most beginner-friendly

  • Feels like a full AI app

  • No technical experience needed


Jan — ChatGPT-like Simplicity

  • Minimal, clean interface

  • 100% offline

  • Ideal for users who want a private alternative to ChatGPT


Ollama — CLI But GUIs Now Available

  • CLI-focused tool

  • BUT most people now pair it with Open WebUI or other community GUIs

  • Makes it powerful + friendly if you want a UI


Winner:

  • Beginners: LM Studio

  • Simplicity: Jan

  • Developers: Ollama

5. Privacy & Open-Source Status

Ollama

  • Fully open-source

  • Private and offline


Jan

  • Fully open-source

  • Built for local privacy


LM Studio

  • Closed-source (proprietary)

  • Still works offline

  • Safe, but not transparent like Ollama or Jan


Clear Distinction:

Ollama & Jan → Open-Source

LM Studio → Closed-Source


Winner: Ollama & Jan

6. Best Use Cases

Use Case

Best Tool


  • Beginner AI Chat

LM Studio

  • Simple offline assistant

Jan

  • Developers & API users

Ollama

  • Business or team workflows

Ollama / LM Studio

  • Highest privacy

Jan

Which One Should You Choose? (2025 Guide)

Choose Ollama if you want:

✔ The fastest performance

✔ API integration

✔ Developer-friendly local AI

✔ Open-source transparency

✔ A tool that works great with community UIs


Choose LM Studio if you want:

✔ A clean, friendly GUI

✔ Easy model downloads

✔ A simple "install and start chatting" experience

✔ Great performance on Apple Silicon


Choose Jan if you want:

✔ 100% offline usage

✔ Open-source and privacy-first

✔ A ChatGPT-like interface

✔ A personal AI that never sends data anywhere

Final Verdict: Best Local AI Runner in 2025

All three are excellent, but they shine differently:

  • Ollama → Best for speed, developers, and flexibility

  • LM Studio → Best for beginners and GUI lovers

  • Jan → Best for privacy and a clean offline ChatGPT-like experience


👉 If you want the fastest, most flexible tool: Pick Ollama

👉 If you want a friendly visual experience: Choose LM Studio

👉 If you want maximum privacy: Go for Jan


 
 
 

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