What is Ollama?
Ollama is a platform for running and building with open AI models. You can run models directly on your own computer, with prompts that, according to the site, are never stored or used for training, or access the same models through cloud inference. The site positions it as an API for open models that fits into the tools developers already use.
In practice you download Ollama, pull a model from its library, and run it locally, or use cloud-hosted models billed by usage. The homepage reports over 9 million installs a month and more than 1 billion model downloads. Pricing covers local use, cloud models priced per million tokens, and Pro, Max, and Team subscriptions that include monthly usage credits.
Key features
- Run open models locally on your own hardware
- Cloud-hosted models accessible via API
- Tool calling support on tested cloud models
- Model downloads from a public library
- Concurrent model runs on higher plans
- Team billing and administration with shared usage credits
Who is it for
- Developers building apps with open models
- Teams wanting privacy and control over prompts
- Engineers running AI agents
- Enterprises needing model access controls and budgets
How to get started with Ollama
- Install the Ollama application on your computer
- Download your chosen model through the app or terminal
- Run the model locally or connect to a cloud model via API
- You want to run open models locally without sending prompts outside
- You build an AI application or agent that uses tool calling
- Your team needs centralized billing and administration of model access
- You need full access to cloud models for free, because the free plan includes only starter credits
- You want a ready-made chat interface, and the tool has no Polish interface
Pros and cons
- Prompts are not stored or used for training, according to the site
- Local running is unlimited on your own hardware
- Wide range of open models, including gpt-oss, DeepSeek, Kimi, and GLM
- Cloud usage beyond included credits is billed per token
- Team plan is listed as early access
Ollama pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 0 USD | Local models unlimited, starter cloud usage credits, starter models only |
| Pro | 20 USD / month | 60 USD of usage credits per month, larger pro models, multiple concurrent models; 200 USD/yr billed annually |
| Max | 100 USD / month | 300 USD of usage credits per month, early access to newest models, 10 concurrent requests |
| Team | 500 USD / month | Unlimited users, 1,000 USD of shared usage credits per month, centralized billing, priority support, early access |
Prices copied from Ollama pricing, checked October 12, 2026. Currency as shown by the vendor; taxes may apply.
Is Ollama free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan includes running models locally, starter usage credits, and access to starter models. Adding credits unlocks all models.
Ollama alternatives
| Tool | Price from | Free plan | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cline | not listed | yes | APIs & models |
 Amazon Bedrock | od 0,20 USD | ? | APIs & models |
 Claude Platform (Anthropic API) | 2 USD input / 10 USD output | no | APIs & models |
 Firecrawl | 16 USD/mo | yes | APIs & models |
 Blackbox AI | not listed | ? | APIs & models |
 Groq | not listed | ? | APIs & models |
Comparisons
FAQ
What is Ollama used for?
Runs open AI models locally or in the cloud via an API, for developers and teams wanting privacy and control.
Is Ollama free?
Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan includes running models locally, starter usage credits, and access to starter models. Adding credits unlocks all models.
How much does Ollama cost?
The cheapest paid plan is 20 USD/mo (vendor pricing, October 12, 2026).
What are the best Ollama alternatives?
Closest alternatives: Cline, Amazon Bedrock, Claude Platform (Anthropic API), Firecrawl, Blackbox AI.
Data checked October 12, 2026 on the vendor website (ollama.com).