vllm vs llama.cpp
Updated
Both are free, open-source LLM inference engines. llama.cpp is more popular (132k vs 95k GitHub stars). Pick vllm if you want the one with more momentum right now (+1.2k stars this week); pick llama.cpp if you want the bigger community (132k vs 95k GitHub stars).
Side by side
 vllm |  llama.cpp | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Inference & serving | Inference & serving |
| GitHub stars | 95,484 | 132,350 |
| Stars this week | +1,217 | +539 |
| Last update | today | today |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Commercial use | ||
| Language | Python | C++ |
| Runs on Mac | ||
| Runs without a GPU | ||
| GPU memory | Not stated | Not stated |
| Needs a paid API key | No | No |
| Self-hostable | ||
| Trending this week | – | – |
Hardware details are as stated by each project and may be incomplete.
Choose vllm if…
High-throughput inference engine for LLMs.
- you want the one with more momentum right now (+1.2k stars this week)
- you don't have a GPU
- your team works in Python
Choose llama.cpp if…
LLM inference in C/C++
- you want the bigger community (132k vs 95k GitHub stars)
- your team works in C++
FAQ
Is vllm better than llama.cpp?
Both are free, open-source LLM inference engines. llama.cpp is more popular (132k vs 95k GitHub stars). Pick vllm if you want the one with more momentum right now (+1.2k stars this week); pick llama.cpp if you want the bigger community (132k vs 95k GitHub stars).
Which is better for commercial use, vllm or llama.cpp?
Both use permissive licenses (Apache-2.0 and MIT), so both allow commercial use.
Do vllm and llama.cpp run on a Mac?
Neither project states Mac support. Check their install guides before you start.
Are vllm and llama.cpp free?
Yes. Both are open source and free to use.