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llama.cpp

Free

High-performance C/C++ inference for LLaMA and GGUF models on CPU and GPU.

Open SourceSelf-hostedC++ SDKPython SDK

Tool Info

Categories
Serving
Developer
ggml-org
License
Open Source
Official Website
github.com/ggml-org/llama.cpp
Repository
ggml-org/llama.cpp
Official Docs

Overview

llama.cpp is the foundational inference engine for running quantized LLMs locally.

It powers Ollama, LM Studio, and many edge deployments.

Essential when you need maximum control over inference.

Features

  • GGUF format
  • CPU and GPU backends
  • Quantization support
  • Server mode

Pricing

Free tier available
Free (open source)

Pros

  • Extremely efficient
  • Runs on consumer hardware
  • Massive community

Best For

Local CPU inferenceGGUF model servingEdge deployment

When NOT to Use

  • Lower-level than Ollama
  • Manual model management

Typical Users

ML engineersEdge deployersPrivacy-focused teams

Related Tools

Ollama
Local model runner with simple command and HTTP interface.
vLLM
High-throughput LLM inference engine with PagedAttention.
LM Studio
Desktop app for running local LLMs with a chat interface.

Alternatives

Ollama
Ollama wraps llama.cpp with easy model management; llama.cpp is the underlying engine for custom deployments.
vLLM
High-throughput LLM inference engine with PagedAttention.
LM Studio
Desktop app for running local LLMs with a chat interface.

Tags

#serving#inference#local

Related Guides

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