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Loci vs Ollama
A finished assistant against a model runner built for developers. Checked against Ollama 0.40.3.
Checked on against Ollama 0.40.3 and Loci 0.1.9 for Mac, from each app's own documentation, linked below.
| What matters | Loci | Ollama |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | YesMac, Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android. | PartlyMac, Windows and Linux. No phone app. |
| Free, with no subscription or message cap | YesFree. No ads either. | YesFree locally. Cloud plans from $20 a month. |
| Works without an account | YesNothing to sign in to. | PartlyNone for local models. Cloud models and web search need one. |
| Picks a model that fits your Mac at first launch | YesSets up a model that fits the Mac at first launch; the library offers more by memory. | NoYou choose a model. Nothing tells you what fits your Mac. |
| Chat works with no internet | YesAfter the one-time model download. | YesAfter the model download. |
| Web search without an account or API key | YesOne switch. Queries go straight from the Mac to the search providers. | PartlyThrough Ollama's servers, with a free Ollama account and an API key. |
| Dictation and spoken answers on the device | YesOn-device dictation, a natural voice, and a hands-free conversation mode. | NoNot available. |
| Understands pictures | YesAttach a picture; models with vision are in the library. | YesImages to models that support them. |
| Chat with your files | YesAttach a document and ask about it. | YesDrag a text or PDF file into the app. |
| Remembers across conversations, on the device | YesSaves what you tell it to remember, on the Mac. | NoNone documented. |
| Your phone can use the models on your Mac | YesLoci Link pairs your iPhone or Android phone with your Mac or PC, with no account. | NoNo phone app. Third-party apps can reach a server you expose. |
| Imports any GGUF model from Hugging Face | YesHand a model page to Loci; it checks the fit before downloading. | Yesollama run hf.co/user/model. |
| Updates itself | YesChecks every four hours and installs on restart. | YesDownloads updates itself on Mac and Windows. |
| Nothing runs when the app is closed | YesOne app, no server, no menu bar process. | NoA menu bar server starts at login. |
| No usage data leaves by default | NoContent-free counts and timings leave by default. One switch in Settings stops them. | NoApp version, request counts and download metadata. No switch in the app. |
| Open source | NoThe app is closed. The models and engines it runs are open. | YesMIT, the app and the runtime. |
Choose Ollama if
- You build software, or run coding agents, against a local API.
- You want the same tool to run cloud models when the local one is too small.
- You use Linux, or a server without a screen.
- Open source is a requirement.
Choose Loci if
- You want the first answer minutes after install, with no model to choose.
- You dictate, or want answers read back, on the Mac itself.
- You want the same assistant on your iPhone, iPad or Android phone, and your phone to use the Mac's models.
- You want web search without an account, and memory that stays on the Mac.
- You would rather nothing ran in the background when the app is closed.
Questions people ask
Is Ollama free?
Running models on your own computer is free. Ollama's cloud models and its web search need an Ollama account, and cloud plans start at $20 a month. Loci is free with no paid tier.
Does Ollama have an iPhone or Android app?
No. Ollama runs on Mac, Windows and Linux. Third-party phone apps can connect to a server you expose on your network. Loci has its own apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, and Loci Link pairs them with your Mac or PC.
Which one is more private?
Both run the model on your computer, so neither company sees a conversation. Ollama's privacy policy lists app version, request counts and download metadata as collected, with no switch in the app. Loci sends content-free counts and timings unless you turn that off in Settings.
Can developers use Loci the way they use Ollama?
No. Ollama is a model server with an API on localhost that coding tools and other software connect to. Loci is an assistant for a person: it has no API server and runs nothing in the background.
Sources
- Ollama releases: v0.40.3, October 11, 2026
- Ollama quickstart: first-run setup
- Ollama FAQ: local use, accounts, updates, login item
- Ollama web search: account and API key
- Ollama cloud plans
- Ollama privacy policy
- Ollama's new app: files and images
- Ollama on macOS
- Running Hugging Face GGUF models with Ollama
- Ollama license (MIT)
- Loci privacy policy: every data flow by feature
- Does Loci need internet? The exact offline boundary
- Loci for Mac: requirements and download
For your own conversations
Try Loci alongside your existing tools.
Use it for a writing or planning task before deciding where it fits in your workflow.