The best tools for running open AI models in 2026

Of the 3 tools for running open AI models we rank, Hugging Face is our top pick at 9.2 out of 10. If you are new to this, start with LM Studio. If you are experienced, try Ollama. Hugging Face: Free account to download and share models and datasets.

Open models give you privacy, control and no API bills. These tools make finding and running them painless.

3 tools ranked Scored out of 10

Last checked 2 October 2026: free plans and prices on each maker's own pricing page.

The short answer

Best overall: Hugging Face9.2 / 10
Best for beginners: LM Studio8.0 / 10
Best for experts: Hugging Face9.2 / 10

Tools for running open AI models compared

Every tool at a glance. Select a name to jump to our full review.

Tools for running open AI models compared by score and audience
Rank	Tool	Score	Best for	Learn it free
1	Hugging FaceHugging Face	9.2 / 10	Best for experts	Hugging Face LLM Course
2	OllamaOllama	8.4 / 10	Best for experts	Hugging Face LLM Course
3	LM StudioElement Labs	8.0 / 10	Good for everyone	Hugging Face LLM Course

The full ranking

What each tool is good for, the catch, what it costs and the free course that teaches it.

Number 1: Hugging Face
Hugging Face
9.2 / 10
Best for experts
The hub for open models and datasets, plus the Transformers library to use them. If you work with open models, you'll end up here.
Use it for
Downloading, fine-tuning and sharing open models and datasets.
The catch
There are a huge number of models, and many are poorly documented. Stick to well-used ones at first.
Free plan
Free account to download and share models and datasets.
Paid plans
PRO is US$9 a month. Hugging Face pricing (opens in a new tab)
Visit Hugging Face (opens in a new tab)
Learn it free
- Hugging Face LLM CourseHugging Facecomfortable coderThe official course on the Transformers library.
- AI Agents CourseHugging Facecomfortable coderBuilding agents with Hugging Face tools.
Number 2: Ollama
Ollama
8.4 / 10
Best for experts
Run open language models on your own machine with one command. It's the quickest way to experiment privately and offline.
Use it for
Testing open models locally, private data, and building apps without API bills.
The catch
Big models need a lot of memory. On an average laptop you're limited to the smaller ones.
Free plan
Free to run models on your own computer; the app is open source (MIT licence).
Paid plans
Pro is US$20 a month for cloud models. Ollama pricing (opens in a new tab)
Visit Ollama (opens in a new tab)
Learn it free
- Hugging Face LLM CourseHugging Facecomfortable coderUnderstand the open models you're running.
Number 3: LM Studio
Element Labs
8.0 / 10
Good for everyone
A desktop app for downloading and chatting with open models, no terminal required. The friendliest way into local AI.
Use it for
Trying open models privately on your laptop and comparing them side by side.
The catch
Your hardware sets the limit. Start with small models and work up.
Free plan
Free to run local models on your own machine.
Paid plans
Bionic+ is US$20 a month for hosted open models. LM Studio pricing (opens in a new tab)
Visit LM Studio (opens in a new tab)
Learn it free
- Hugging Face LLM CourseHugging Facecomfortable coderExplains what's going on inside the models you download.

Free courses to learn tools for running open AI models

The reviewed free courses that teach the skills behind these tools.

Hugging FaceNo certificate

Hugging Face LLM Course

Hugging Face LLM Course has 12 chapters of 6 to 8 hours each, costs nothing and has no certificate. You learn LLMs with the Transformers library.

Difficulty

comfortable coderllmsnlpdeep learning

Hugging FaceFree certificate

AI Agents Course

Build LLM agents that use tools and plan steps, using open-source frameworks and open models.

Difficulty

comfortable coderllms

Questions about tools for running open AI models

What are the best tools for running open AI models in 2026?

Our top pick is Hugging Face (9.2/10), followed by Ollama and LM Studio. The hub for open models and datasets, plus the Transformers library to use them. If you work with open models, you'll end up here.

Which tools for running open AI models are best for beginners?

Start with LM Studio. A desktop app for downloading and chatting with open models, no terminal required. The friendliest way into local AI.

Which tools for running open AI models are best for experts?

Hugging Face is our pick for experienced users, with Ollama close behind. The hub for open models and datasets, plus the Transformers library to use them. If you work with open models, you'll end up here.

What's the catch with Hugging Face?

There are a huge number of models, and many are poorly documented. Stick to well-used ones at first.

Are there free courses that teach tools for running open AI models?

Yes. We recommend Hugging Face LLM Course (Hugging Face) and AI Agents Course (Hugging Face). Each one is free and reviewed on FreeAICourses.com.

Which tools for running open AI models have a free plan?

Hugging Face, Ollama and LM Studio have a free plan or free version.