ITG NowHome › AI glossary › LM Studio
What is LM Studio?
LM Studio is a free desktop app that lets you download and chat with AI models on your own computer.
- Category Agents & tools
- Updated 20 Oct 2026
LM Studio, explained simply
LM Studio is an app for running AI models locally. It has a normal window with buttons, so you don't need the command line.
It matters because you can try open models privately. Your chats stay on your computer.
For example, you can open the app, search for a model, click download and start chatting.
Bigger models need more memory. The app helps you pick one that fits your computer.
On ITG Now, our free tool guides cover local AI apps like LM Studio and say what kind of computer you need.
Related terms
Local AIOllamaOpen weightsHugging FaceVRAM
Where you'll see it on ITG Now
- GuideOpenHuman: Open Source AI Agent App That Runs Lean (2026)
- AI newsNvidia releases free Nemotron 3.5 models for agents and PCs
- GuideHindsight: Free AI Agent Memory That Learns (2026 Guide)
- GuideOpenDesign: Free Open Source AI Design Tool for Teams
- GuidePureMac: Free CleanMyMac Alternative, No Subscription
Questions people ask about LM Studio
Is LM Studio free?
The app has been free to use for personal use. Check its site for the current terms.
LM Studio vs Ollama: what is the difference?
LM Studio has a point-and-click app. Ollama is mainly used from the command line.
Is LM Studio private?
Chats run on your computer, so they stay local once a model is downloaded.