vLLM vs Text Generation WebUI (2025): Which One Should You Use?
- Philip Moses
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
The world of local AI tools has grown a lot by 2025. Two of the most popular names you’ll hear today are vLLM and Text Generation WebUI. Both help you run large language models (LLMs) on your own machine or server, but they are built for very different kinds of users.
👉 In this blog, we’ll explain what vLLM is, what Text Generation WebUI is, how they compare in features, speed, and ease of use, and which one is the better choice for you in 2025.
What is vLLM?
vLLM is an open-source engine made for running AI models very fast. Think of it like a high-speed backend that powers chatbots, assistants, and AI apps. It was developed at UC Berkeley and is now widely used by companies like Amazon and LinkedIn to handle millions of AI requests.
It’s built for speed and scale – meaning it can handle many users at once.
Works with lots of models like LLaMA, GPT, and Mistral.
Runs on modern GPUs, TPUs, and even Apple/Intel chips.
Comes with an OpenAI-compatible API, so developers can plug it into apps easily.
In short, vLLM is for people who need production-level AI performance.
What is Text Generation WebUI?
Text Generation WebUI (also called oobabooga WebUI) is a user-friendly web interface that lets you chat with AI models locally in your browser. It’s popular with hobbyists, students, and researchers because it’s simple to set up and packed with features.
Easy to install and use – just run it and open your browser.
Supports many AI models (LLaMA, GPT-J, Mistral, etc.) and formats (GGUF, GPTQ, AWQ).
Has built-in chat interface, dark/light themes, and plugin support.
Can handle text, images, and even web search extensions.
In short, Text Generation WebUI is for anyone who wants a ready-to-use AI chat app on their own computer.
vLLM vs Text Generation WebUI: Key Differences
Feature | vLLM | Text Generation WebUI |
| Speed & scalability (backend engine) | User experience & features (frontend interface) |
| Needs coding/command-line setup | Very easy, runs in browser |
| Handles huge workloads, very fast under heavy load | Fast enough for personal use, depends on your hardware |
| Supports many models & hardware setups | Supports many model types & plugins |
| Developers, startups, companies running AI apps | Hobbyists, students, researchers, personal use |
Advantages and Disadvantages
vLLM Pros:
Extremely fast and efficient
Scales to thousands of users
Supports a wide range of hardware
vLLM Cons:
Needs powerful hardware (GPUs)
More technical to set up
WebUI Pros:
Beginner-friendly
Rich chat interface and extensions
Works fully offline for privacy
WebUI Cons:
Not designed for high-traffic production use
Too many settings can confuse new users
Who Should Use Which in 2025?
Choose vLLM if you’re a developer, startup, or company building apps that need to serve many users quickly and reliably.
Choose Text Generation WebUI if you’re an individual, student, or researcher who wants to experiment with AI models in a friendly, local environment.
Final Thoughts
By 2025, both vLLM and Text Generation WebUI are among the best tools for running local LLMs – but they serve different needs. vLLM is the engine for speed and scale, while Text Generation WebUI is the interface for simplicity and personal use.
If you want to explore AI casually on your own device, WebUI is the easiest choice. If you need to run AI at scale in production, vLLM is the way to go.
Both projects continue to grow fast, so whichever you pick, you’ll be using one of the top AI tools of 2025.
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