Jan vs LM Studio
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
AI tool · Open source
An open-source desktop assistant that runs models offline or connects to cloud APIs.
AI tool · Free
A desktop app for discovering, downloading and chatting with local open models, with a local server mode.
Our verdict
Jan is an open-source desktop assistant that can run models offline or connect to cloud APIs, so it suits people who want one open-source app that mixes local and online models. LM Studio is a free desktop app built around finding, downloading and chatting with local open models, with a friendly interface and a local server mode, so it suits non-developers who mainly want to run models on their own computer. Both run on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Pick Jan if you want open-source software that mixes offline local models with cloud API connections in one app.
Pick LM Studio if you're not a developer and mainly want an easy way to browse, download and chat with local models, including comparing quantised versions.
| Key difference | Jan | LM Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Desktop assistant for offline local models and cloud APIs | Model browser and chat app for local open models |
| Price | Open source | Free (not stated as open source) |
| Cloud models | Connects to cloud APIs alongside local models | Listed features centre on local models only |
| Ease of use | Described as less polished than commercial desktop apps | Described as a friendly GUI for local AI |
| Hardware | Local model performance depends on your machine | Big models need lots of RAM or VRAM; offers hardware hints |
Written with AI from both products' catalogue entries · updated 2026-10-29
Who each one is for
Choose Jan if you need…
- Open-source offline chat
- Mixing local and cloud models
Choose LM Studio if you need…
- Non-developers running local models
- Comparing quantised models
Side-by-side
| Jan | LM Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI assistants · Local & open models | AI assistants · Local & open models |
| Price | Open source | Free |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Works with | — | — |
| Hands-on tested by us | Not yet | Not yet |
| Last checked | 2026-10-29 | 2026-10-29 |
What each one is
Jan
An open-source desktop assistant that runs models offline or connects to cloud APIs. Private and fully open source. Less polished than commercial desktop apps.
LM Studio
A desktop app for discovering, downloading and chatting with local open models, with a local server mode. Friendly GUI for local AI. Big models need lots of RAM or VRAM to run well.
Best for
Jan
- Open-source offline chat
- Mixing local and cloud models
LM Studio
- Non-developers running local models
- Comparing quantised models
Strengths
Jan
- Offline local models
- Cloud API connections
- Extensions
- Local API server
LM Studio
- Model browser and downloads
- Chat with documents
- Local API server
- Hardware compatibility hints
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Jan or LM Studio?
Jan is an open-source desktop assistant that can run models offline or connect to cloud APIs, so it suits people who want one open-source app that mixes local and online models. LM Studio is a free desktop app built around finding, downloading and chatting with local open models, with a friendly interface and a local server mode, so it suits non-developers who mainly want to run models on their own computer. Both run on macOS, Windows and Linux. Pick Jan if you want open-source software that mixes offline local models with cloud API connections in one app. Pick LM Studio if you're not a developer and mainly want an easy way to browse, download and chat with local models, including comparing quantised versions.
What is the difference between Jan and LM Studio?
Jan: An open-source desktop assistant that runs models offline or connects to cloud APIs. LM Studio: A desktop app for discovering, downloading and chatting with local open models, with a local server mode. Jan suits open-source offline chat, while LM Studio suits non-developers running local models.
Are Jan and LM Studio free?
Jan: Open source. LM Studio: Free.
What are other alternatives to Jan and LM Studio?
Other options people compare them with include Ollama.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.