# llamafile

Framework · https://godooo.ai/en/framework/llamafile

> llamafile is an open-source AI framework, launched in 2023, made for developers and people who don't write code.

A way to ship an open model as a single executable file that runs locally without installing anything.

Main jobs: Run models locally. It is open source and free to use. You can use it offline on your own machine, in the terminal, through an API and on your own server.

## At a glance

- **Type:** [Framework](https://godooo.ai/en/browse#framework)
- **Launched:** 2023
- **Galaxy:** [Models & APIs](https://godooo.ai/en/galaxy/builders)
- **Open source:** Yes
- **Source code:** [github.com/mozilla-ai/llamafile](https://github.com/mozilla-ai/llamafile)
- **GitHub stars:** 26,049
- **How you run it:** Runs offline · Terminal · API · Self-host
- **Made for:** Developers · No-code users
- **Website:** [docs.mozilla.ai](https://docs.mozilla.ai/llamafile)

## What it can do

- **[Run models locally](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/local-inference)** — main job, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_.
- **[Speech to text](https://godooo.ai/en/capability/speech-to-text)** — supported, _proposed by a machine, awaiting calibration_. “llamafile also includes whisperfile , a single-file speech-to-text tool built on whisper.cpp and the same Cosmopolitan packaging. It supports transcription and translation of audio files” (read on [docs.mozilla.ai](https://docs.mozilla.ai/llamafile), 2026-09-24)

## Alternatives

- **[Ollama](https://godooo.ai/en/product/ollama)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[LocalAI](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/localai)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally, Speech to text
- **[Gemma](https://godooo.ai/en/model/gemma)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[llama.cpp](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/llama-cpp)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[Whisper](https://godooo.ai/en/model/whisper)** (Open source, free): Also does: Speech to text, Run models locally
- **[exo](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/exo)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[gpt-oss](https://godooo.ai/en/model/gpt-oss)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[Jan](https://godooo.ai/en/product/jan)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[LM Studio](https://godooo.ai/en/product/lm-studio)** (Free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[MLC LLM](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/mlc-llm)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[MLX](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/mlx)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally
- **[Phi](https://godooo.ai/en/model/phi)** (Open source, free): Also does: Run models locally

## Connections

- **Built with:** [llama.cpp](https://godooo.ai/en/framework/llama-cpp)

## Questions

### What is llamafile?

llamafile is an open-source AI framework, launched in 2023, made for developers and people who don't write code. A way to ship an open model as a single executable file that runs locally without installing anything.

### Is llamafile free?

Yes. llamafile is open source and free to use.

### Is llamafile open source?

Yes. The source code is at https://github.com/mozilla-ai/llamafile.

### Can llamafile run locally?

Yes. llamafile can run offline on your own machine. It can also be self-hosted on your own server.

### What can llamafile do?

Main jobs: Run models locally. It can also do: Speech to text.

### What are open-source alternatives to llamafile?

Open-source ones: Ollama, LocalAI, Gemma, llama.cpp, Whisper, exo, gpt-oss and Jan. Others: LM Studio.

## Sources

- [docs.mozilla.ai](https://docs.mozilla.ai/llamafile) — checked 2026-09-24
- [github.com](https://github.com/mozilla-ai/llamafile)

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Last updated 2026-09-24 · sources checked 2026-09-24 · Markdown version of https://godooo.ai/en/framework/llamafile. Every page on this site has one: add .md to its address.