The Ollama Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Ollama 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.
Ollama
The Insider’s Guide
Run open AI models on your computer or in Ollama's cloud
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from Ollama’s own pages.
Made by Ollama · checked Nov 12, 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 Ollama’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Ollama’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 45 of the 87 other AI assistants we grade
Ollama runs open-weight language models on your own computer, and also offers hosted cloud models that need no download. It is used from a command line and an API rather than a chat window of its own. Paid plans add monthly usage credits for the cloud models, billed per token beyond them.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Ollama, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You drive it from a command line and an API, and large models are slow without a capable GPU.
- 1
Best for running AI models on your own computer
Ollama runs AI models on your own Mac, Windows or Linux machine for free, with paid cloud plans on top.
- 2
Paid plans start at $16.67 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $20 per month (Pro), or $16.67 per month billed annually.
- 3
There is a free plan
Pay as you go costs $0: run models locally with no subscription, or pay per token for cloud models, with 3 concurrent requests.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 5
Local models
Download an open model and run it on your own machine. Speed depends on your hardware, and large models are slow without a strong GPU.
- 6
Cloud models
Run larger open models on Ollama's servers with no download. Model names ending in :cloud select them, and the API is at ollama.com.
- 7
API compatibility
The docs describe OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic-compatible APIs, so apps written for those SDKs can point at Ollama.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 45 of 87
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 Ollama 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.
Ollama at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $20 per month (Pro), or $16.67 per month billed annually
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- Ollama
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for running AI models on your own computer
Ollama runs AI models on your own Mac, Windows or Linux machine for free, with paid cloud plans on top. It is driven from a command line and an API, and the pages we read describe no built-in chat app, so it suits people who are comfortable in a terminal.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The desktop program is free to download and run, with no subscription, which counts as free and substantial. Cloud plans start at $20 a month, but you do not need them. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Running models locally costs $0 with no cap from the vendor; only your hardware limits you. Cloud models are billed per token on the free tier. |
| Features | C | Local and cloud models behind an OpenAI- and Anthropic-compatible API. The pages we read describe no chat app, and some Pro and Team features are listed as coming soon. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. You drive it from a command line and an API, and large models are slow without a capable GPU. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Mac, Windows and Linux programs only, with OpenAI and Anthropic SDK compatibility. No web or phone app is listed. |
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 Ollama is for
- Fits if you are happy in a terminal and want models running on your own machine
- Works for developers who want an OpenAI-style API pointed at local models
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a ready chat window, as the pages we read describe none
- Tight if your computer has no capable GPU, because large models run slowly
- Watch out: cloud use past your plan's credits is billed per token at each model's rate
- Watch out: Team is marked early access, and some Pro and Team features are listed as coming soon
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who want open models behind a local API
- People who want to run models on their own hardware at no cost
- Teams that want shared usage credits for hosted open models
Worth knowing
- It is driven from a command line and API; the pages we read describe no built-in chat app.
- Local speed depends on your hardware; the vendor warns large models are slow without a strong GPU.
- Cloud usage beyond a plan's monthly credits is billed per token at the listed model rates.
- Team is marked early access, and some Pro and Team features are listed as coming soon.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$16.67
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Ollama has a free plan. Paid plans start at $20 per month (Pro), or $16.67 per month billed annually.
The desktop program is free to download and run, with no subscription, which counts as free and substantial.
Pay as you go
$0
Run models locally at no cost; cloud models are billed per token. 3 concurrent requests and no service fees.
Pro
$20
per month, billed monthly ($16.67 billed annually)
$60 of usage credits per month and access to larger pro models. Annual billing is $200 a year.
Max
$100
per month
Everything in Pro plus $300 of monthly usage credits, early model access and 10 concurrent requests.
Team
$500
per month for unlimited users
$1,000 of monthly credits shared by the team, central billing and administration, and priority support. Early access.
Enterprise
Custom
Adds model access controls, cost budgets for users and API keys, and a private Slack channel. Priced by volume.
The free plan
Pay as you go costs $0: run models locally with no subscription, or pay per token for cloud models, with 3 concurrent requests.
Read from ollama.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Pro costs $200 a year billed annually
Ollama's pricing page shows Pro at $20 a month, or $200 a year billed annually, which works out to $16.67 a month.
Stated on ollama.com
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
Run open AI models on your computer or in Ollama's cloud. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, AI features, chat assistant, AI agents.
Local and cloud models behind an OpenAI- and Anthropic-compatible API.
- Local models
- Download an open model and run it on your own machine. Speed depends on your hardware, and large models are slow without a strong GPU.
- Cloud models
- Run larger open models on Ollama's servers with no download. Model names ending in :cloud select them, and the API is at ollama.com.
- API compatibility
- The docs describe OpenAI-compatible and Anthropic-compatible APIs, so apps written for those SDKs can point at Ollama.
- Per-token model pricing
- The pricing page lists input, cached input and output prices per million tokens for each cloud model, with lower off-peak rates on some.
- Zero data retention
- Ollama says prompts are never stored or trained on, and that partner providers must agree to no logging and no training.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- OpenAI SDK
- Anthropic SDK
Ollama is made by Ollama.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
45/87
Other AI assistants it is graded above
Ollama's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 45 of the 87 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 68 of 87) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $16.67 a month, against a middle price of $12.46 for the category: 38 of the 53 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. 48 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 88 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. Ollama’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 63 of 87
- AFree plan and trialAbove 68 of 87
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 87
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 87
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 87
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 65 AI assistants. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Ollama 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 Ollama 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 costs $200.04 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, OpenAI SDK and Anthropic SDK among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Ollama’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
LM Studio, Jan, GPT4All, Open WebUI and AnythingLLM
The 5 tools Ollama is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
LM Studio
Free plan · from $20/mo
- 3.0GPA
Jan
Free
Open-source desktop app for running local and cloud AI models.
- Jan is open source, according to its own site.
- Ollama also covers AI agents.
- Jan also covers AI search.
- 2.8GPA
GPT4All
Free
Desktop chatbot that runs language models on your own device.
- Ollama also covers AI agents.
- 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
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.
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 Ollama free?
Ollama has a free plan. Pay as you go costs $0: run models locally with no subscription, or pay per token for cloud models, with 3 concurrent requests.
How much does Ollama cost?
Ollama lists 5 plans. Pay as you go: $0.
What platforms does Ollama work on?
Ollama is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Ollama offer any discounts?
Ollama publicly lists the following: Pro costs $200 a year billed annually.
Does Ollama have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Ollama is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Ollama have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Ollama is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Ollama open source?
Ollama is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does Ollama have an API?
Yes. Ollama offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Ollama integrate with?
Ollama's listing names OpenAI SDK and Anthropic SDK. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Ollama?
Ollama is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Ollama?
The closest alternatives to Ollama in our directory are LM Studio, Jan, GPT4All, Open WebUI and AnythingLLM.
How does Ollama compare with other AI assistants?
Ollama's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 45 of the 87 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 10.
Is Ollama good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Ollama A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $16.67 a month, against a middle price of $12.46 for the category: 38 of the 53 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Ollama?
To replace Ollama 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 Ollama’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Ollama's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
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 Ollama. Prices change, so check ollama.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 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.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Ollama, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/ollama
- 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, "Ollama: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/ollama
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/ollama/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after Ollama, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Assistants Insider's GuideEvery one of the 88 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 Ollama’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. Ollama is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Ollama. Prices and plans change: check ollama.com before you buy.