The LM Studio Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about LM Studio in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
LM Studio
The Insider’s Guide
Desktop app for running open AI models on your own computer
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from LM Studio’s own pages.
Made by Element Labs, Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from LM Studio’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on LM Studio’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 39 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade
LM Studio is a desktop app for downloading and running open large language models on your own computer, with a chat interface, document chat and a local server that exposes OpenAI-like endpoints. It is free for home and work use and can run offline once a model has been downloaded. In July 2026 the company added LM Studio Bionic, a separate agent app for coding and document work that can also use paid, US-hosted cloud models.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about LM Studio, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Download the app, download a model, start chatting.
- 1
Best for running open AI models privately on a desktop
LM Studio is a desktop app that downloads open models and runs them on your own computer, offline once a model is in, with document chat and a local server for your other tools.
- 2
Paid plans start at $20 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $20 per month (Bionic+, for cloud models).
- 3
There is a free plan
LM Studio is free for home and work use. Bionic's Free plan covers the agent, local models, offline voice transcription, LM Link for up to 5 devices and limited web search.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
Local model runner
Downloads and runs open models such as gpt-oss, Qwen, Gemma and DeepSeek on your own hardware with llama.cpp, plus Apple's MLX on Apple Silicon Macs.
- 6
Offline chat with documents
Chat and document chat (RAG) run on the device. The docs say nothing entered into a local chat or dropped into it as a document leaves the machine.
- 7
Local API server and SDKs
Serves models on OpenAI-like endpoints on localhost or the local network, with Python and TypeScript SDKs, the lms command line tool and the headless llmster daemon for servers.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 39 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace LM Studio you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
LM Studio at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $20 per month (Bionic+, for cloud models)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Element Labs, Inc., since 2023
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for running open AI models privately on a desktop
LM Studio is a desktop app that downloads open models and runs them on your own computer, offline once a model is in, with document chat and a local server for your other tools. It's free for home and work, but it wants 16GB of RAM or more, and 4GB of dedicated VRAM on Windows. There's no phone app and no Intel Mac support, and cloud models cost $20 a month in a separate app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The app is free for home and work use, and if your computer can run the models you never pay a penny. The paid plans are for cloud models in Bionic, a separate app: $20 a month, or $100 for 5x the usage. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free for home and work use, with the Bionic agent, local models, offline voice transcription, LM Link for up to 5 devices and limited web search. |
| Features | C | It does the local-model job fully: open models on your own hardware, document chat that stays on the device, a local OpenAI-like server, SDKs and MCP tools. A smaller job than a general assistant, and the cloud models live in a separate app. |
| Ease of use | B | Download the app, download a model, start chatting. The hard part is the hardware: the docs recommend 16GB of RAM or more, and at least 4GB of dedicated VRAM on Windows. No rating on record for a desktop app. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, Windows and Linux, though not Intel-based Macs, and no phone app of its own: on iPhone and iPad you reach your models through the separate Locally app over LM Link, which is still in preview. It serves an API to your own tools. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who LM Studio is for
- Fits if you want open models running on your own Mac, Windows or Linux computer
- Works for developers who want a local OpenAI-like endpoint for their own tools
Who it is not for
- Skip it if your computer is modest, as the docs recommend 16GB of RAM or more, and 4GB of VRAM on Windows
- Not for you if you have an Intel-based Mac, which isn't supported
- Watch out: there's no phone app; on iPhone and iPad you go through the separate Locally app over LM Link, a preview
- Pricey if you want cloud models: Bionic+ is $20 a month in a separate app, and Pro is $100 for 5x the usage
- Watch out: LM Link is free only while it's in preview, and web search on the free plan is limited
Good to know
Good for
- Running open models privately on a Mac, Windows or Linux computer
- Developers who want a local OpenAI-like endpoint for their own tools
- Agent work on code and documents with open models, through Bionic
Worth knowing
- LM Studio itself is desktop only; on iPhone and iPad its models are reached through the separate Locally app. Intel-based Macs are not supported.
- Local models need capable hardware: the docs recommend 16GB of RAM or more, and on Windows at least 4GB of dedicated VRAM.
- The paid plans cover cloud models in LM Studio Bionic, a separate app; cloud use needs an LM Studio account with available credits.
- LM Link is in preview and free for now; LM Studio says free and paid LM Link plans will follow at general availability.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$20
A month to start. There is a free plan too
LM Studio has a free plan. Paid plans start at $20 per month (Bionic+, for cloud models).
The app is free for home and work use, and if your computer can run the models you never pay a penny.
Free
$0
Local models through llama.cpp and MLX, the Bionic agent, offline voice transcription, LM Link for up to 5 devices and limited web search.
Bionic+
$20
per month
Adds US-hosted open source cloud models such as Kimi K3 and DeepSeek V4 Flash, discounted bulk tokens, and web search with page extraction.
Pro
$100
per month
Everything in Bionic+ with 5x the usage limits, discounted bulk tokens and early access to new features.
The free plan
LM Studio is free for home and work use. Bionic's Free plan covers the agent, local models, offline voice transcription, LM Link for up to 5 devices and limited web search.
Read from lmstudio.ai on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Desktop app for running open AI models on your own computer. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, public API, AI features, chat assistant, AI agents.
A smaller job than a general assistant, and the cloud models live in a separate app.
- Local model runner
- Downloads and runs open models such as gpt-oss, Qwen, Gemma and DeepSeek on your own hardware with llama.cpp, plus Apple's MLX on Apple Silicon Macs.
- Offline chat with documents
- Chat and document chat (RAG) run on the device. The docs say nothing entered into a local chat or dropped into it as a document leaves the machine.
- Local API server and SDKs
- Serves models on OpenAI-like endpoints on localhost or the local network, with Python and TypeScript SDKs, the lms command line tool and the headless llmster daemon for servers.
- MCP client
- MCP servers can be installed in LM Studio so that local models can call the tools they provide.
- LM Link
- Links your own machines over an end-to-end encrypted connection built on Tailscale, so a model on a remote device can be used as if local, including from an iPhone through the Locally app. In preview.
- LM Studio Bionic agent
- A separate app that works on code and on documents, slides and spreadsheets inside projects, using local models, LM Link models or cloud models billed in credits.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Hugging Face
- Tailscale
- Codex
- Claude Code
- OpenClaw
- OpenCode
LM Studio is made by Element Labs, Inc., and has been around since 2023.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
39/57
Other AI assistants it is graded above
LM Studio's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 39 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 43 of 57) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $20 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 34 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 28 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. LM Studio’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 38 of 57
- AFree plan and trialAbove 43 of 57
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 57
- BEase of useAbove 21 of 57
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 57
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 45 AI assistants. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. LM Studio is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace LM Studio you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 39 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade. It costs $240 a year.
What you could not
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Hugging Face, Tailscale and Codex among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. LM Studio’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Jan, Msty, AnythingLLM, Open WebUI and Cherry Studio
The 5 tools LM Studio is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Jan
Free
Open-source desktop app for running local and cloud AI models.
- Jan is open source, according to its own site.
- LM Studio also covers AI agents.
- Jan also covers AI search.
- 2.6GPA
Msty
Free plan · from $149/yr
Private AI workspace for local and online models.
- Only Msty lists a web app.
- Msty can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.2GPA
AnythingLLM
Free plan · from $50/mo
Open-source AI app for documents, agents and local models.
- Only AnythingLLM lists a web app.
- Only AnythingLLM lists an Android app.
- AnythingLLM is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Open WebUI
Free plan
Self-hosted chat interface for local and cloud AI models.
- Only Open WebUI lists a web app.
- Open WebUI is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Open WebUI also covers AI search.
- 3.2GPA
Cherry Studio
Free plan
Open-source desktop AI client for 50+ model providers.
- Only Cherry Studio lists iOS and Android apps.
- Cherry Studio is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is LM Studio free?
LM Studio has a free plan. LM Studio is free for home and work use.
How much does LM Studio cost?
LM Studio lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does LM Studio work on?
LM Studio is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does LM Studio have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. LM Studio is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does LM Studio have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. LM Studio is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is LM Studio open source?
LM Studio is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does LM Studio work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does LM Studio have an API?
Yes. LM Studio offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does LM Studio integrate with?
LM Studio's listing names Hugging Face, Tailscale, Codex, Claude Code, OpenClaw and OpenCode.
Who makes LM Studio?
LM Studio is made by Element Labs, Inc. It dates from 2023.
What are the alternatives to LM Studio?
The closest alternatives to LM Studio in our directory are Jan, Msty, AnythingLLM, Open WebUI and Cherry Studio.
How does LM Studio compare with other AI assistants?
LM Studio's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 39 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
Is LM Studio good value for money?
ToolGPA grades LM Studio A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $20 a month, against a middle price of $10 for the category: 34 of the 38 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of LM Studio?
To replace LM Studio you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from LM Studio’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from LM Studio's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-27.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Element Labs, Inc. Prices change, so check lmstudio.ai before you buy.
- lmstudio.ai/pricing
- lmstudio.ai/
- lmstudio.ai/download
- lmstudio.ai/developers
- lmstudio.ai/docs/app
- lmstudio.ai/docs/app/system-requirements
- lmstudio.ai/docs/app/offline
- lmstudio.ai/link
- lmstudio.ai/docs/bionic
- lmstudio.ai/docs/bionic/accounts-plans-and-billing
- lmstudio.ai/blog/introducing-lm-studio-bionic
- lmstudio.ai/blog/free-for-work
- lmstudio.ai/blog/locally-lm-link
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- LM Studio, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/lm-studio
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "LM Studio: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/lm-studio
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/lm-studio/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after LM Studio, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Assistants Insider's GuideEvery one of the 58 AI assistants we grade, compared
- Gemini Insider's GuideGoogle's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps3.8 GPA
- Chatbox Insider's GuideAI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan3.4 GPA
- ChatGPT Insider's GuideOpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what LM Studio’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. LM Studio is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Element Labs, Inc. Prices and plans change: check lmstudio.ai before you buy.