Ollama pricing in 2026
Ollama is open source. Free to run, source available, bring your own keys or self-host. Here is the breakdown of how you pay, plus cheaper alternatives if it is not the right fit.
Plans
Verified October 2026Ollama is free and open source under the MIT license. The only cost is the hardware it runs on and the electricity it draws. Some models require 8 GB of VRAM or more to run at a usable speed, so a dedicated GPU is the real cost to consider.
How you pay
Pricing summary: Free and open source. Always confirm current plans on the official site.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Ollama cost?
Ollama is open source: Free and open source.
Is Ollama free?
Yes, Ollama has a free path. Free to run: self-host or bring your own API key.
Does Ollama cost anything?
No. Ollama is free to download and use. You pay nothing to Ollama for running models. The only costs are your own hardware and power.
What hardware do I need to run Ollama?
Most 7B models run on a modern Mac or a GPU with at least 8 GB of VRAM. Larger models like 70B need 40 GB or more of VRAM or system RAM. Ollama also runs on CPU, though inference is slower without a GPU.