--- title: "axolotl vs elia" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl-vs-darrenburns-elia" tools: ["axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl", "darrenburns-elia"] --- # axolotl vs elia *GraphCanon updated Aug 14, 2026* ## Verdict Pick axolotl if axolotl is a Python-based framework designed for fine-tuning LLMs, requiring NVIDIA or AMD GPUs, Python 3.11+, and PyTorch ≥2.11.0; pick elia if elia is a terminal-based user interface focused on keyboard shortcuts for efficient interaction with multiple large language models. [axolotl](https://docs.axolotl.ai) reports 12k GitHub stars, 1.4k forks, and 277 open issues, last pushed Aug 1, 2026. [elia](https://github.com/darrenburns/elia) has 2.5k stars, 156 forks, and 24 open issues, last pushed Oct 10, 2024. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [axolotl's repository](https://github.com/axolotl-ai-cloud/axolotl) and [elia's repository](https://github.com/darrenburns/elia). | | [axolotl](/tools/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl.md) | [elia](/tools/darrenburns-elia.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Go ahead and axolotl questions | Keyboard-centric TUI for interacting with various large language models. | | Stars | 12,297 | 2,479 | | Forks | 1,399 | 156 | | Open issues | 277 | 24 | | Language | Python | Python | | Adopt for | Axolotl is a Python-based framework designed for fine-tuning LLMs, requiring NVIDIA or AMD GPUs, Python 3.11+, and PyTorch ≥2.11.0. | Elia is a terminal-based user interface focused on keyboard shortcuts for efficient interaction with multiple large language models. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | Apache-2.0 | Elia uses the Apache-2.0 license, allowing free use, modification, and distribution provided that proper attribution and copyleft requirements are observed. | | Categories | LLM Frameworks, Model Training | Developer Tools, LLM Frameworks | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [axolotl](/tools/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl.md) | [elia](/tools/darrenburns-elia.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Dormant (18%) | | Days since push | 1d | 672d | | Open issues (now) | 277 | 24 | | Owner type | Organization | User | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/darrenburns-elia/trust.md) | ## Shared compatibility - **Python**: [axolotl](/tools/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl.md) - Python runtime; [elia](/tools/darrenburns-elia.md) - Python runtime ## Decision facts: axolotl - **Requirements:** Hardware requirement includes either NVIDIA (Ampere series or newer) or AMD GPUs.; Software requirements dictate the use of Python >=3.11, with version 3.12 recommended and PyTorch ≥2.11.0. - **Adopt for:** Axolotl is a Python-based framework designed for fine-tuning LLMs, requiring NVIDIA or AMD GPUs, Python 3.11+, and PyTorch ≥2.11.0. ## Decision facts: elia - **Hosting:** self hosted - Users host Elia on their local machine or server environment to interact with multiple large language models via API. - **Pricing:** freemium - Elia itself is free and open-source under the Apache-2.0 license, but accessing specific large language models through APIs may incur costs depending on the provider’s pricing model. - **Adopt for:** Elia is a terminal-based user interface focused on keyboard shortcuts for efficient interaction with multiple large language models. - **License detail:** Elia uses the Apache-2.0 license, allowing free use, modification, and distribution provided that proper attribution and copyleft requirements are observed. ## Choose when ### Choose axolotl if… - Requirements: Hardware requirement includes either NVIDIA (Ampere series or newer) or AMD GPUs.; Software requirements dictate the use of Python >=3.11, with version 3.12 recommended and PyTorch ≥2.11.0.. - Tags unique to axolotl: fine-tuning, llm. - Also covers Model Training. - When working with newer NVIDIA Ampere series GPUs or modern AMD GPUs to leverage `bf16` and Flash Attention. ### Choose elia if… - Users host Elia on their local machine or server environment to interact with multiple large language models via API. - Pricing: Elia itself is free and open-source under the Apache-2.0 license, but accessing specific large language models through APIs may incur costs depending on the provider’s pricing model.. - Tags unique to elia: ai, chatgpt, claude, gemma. - Also covers Developer Tools. - Use Elia when you want to work within the command line environment and have quick, convenient access to various large language models through API integration. ## When NOT to use axolotl - If you are constrained by older GPU models that do not support the required features like `bf16` or if your system does not have an NVIDIA or AMD GPU. - In environments where Python version must be less than 3.11, as Axolotl requires at least Python 3.11 for operation. ## When NOT to use elia - Do not use Elia if you require a graphical user interface (GUI) and find that the terminal-based interaction restricts functionality or accessibility according to your needs. - Not recommended if API support for your preferred language model is missing, as this limits its interoperability for specific workflows. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between axolotl and elia? axolotl: Go ahead and axolotl questions. elia: Keyboard-centric TUI for interacting with various large language models.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose axolotl over elia? Choose axolotl over elia when Requirements: Hardware requirement includes either NVIDIA (Ampere series or newer) or AMD GPUs.; Software requirements dictate the use of Python >=3.11, with version 3.12 recommended and PyTorch ≥2.11.0.; Tags unique to axolotl: fine-tuning, llm; Also covers Model Training; When working with newer NVIDIA Ampere series GPUs or modern AMD GPUs to leverage `bf16` and Flash Attention. ### When should I choose elia over axolotl? Choose elia over axolotl when Users host Elia on their local machine or server environment to interact with multiple large language models via API; Pricing: Elia itself is free and open-source under the Apache-2.0 license, but accessing specific large language models through APIs may incur costs depending on the provider’s pricing model.; Tags unique to elia: ai, chatgpt, claude, gemma; Also covers Developer Tools; Use Elia when you want to work within the command line environment and have quick, convenient access to various large language models through API integration. ### When should I avoid axolotl? If you are constrained by older GPU models that do not support the required features like `bf16` or if your system does not have an NVIDIA or AMD GPU. In environments where Python version must be less than 3.11, as Axolotl requires at least Python 3.11 for operation. ### When should I avoid elia? Do not use Elia if you require a graphical user interface (GUI) and find that the terminal-based interaction restricts functionality or accessibility according to your needs. Not recommended if API support for your preferred language model is missing, as this limits its interoperability for specific workflows. ### Is axolotl or elia more popular on GitHub? axolotl has more GitHub stars (12,297 vs 2,479). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are axolotl and elia open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (axolotl: Apache-2.0, elia: Apache-2.0). ### Where can I find alternatives to axolotl or elia? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [axolotl alternatives](/tools/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl/alternatives) and [elia alternatives](/tools/darrenburns-elia/alternatives) ([axolotl markdown twin](/tools/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl/alternatives.md), [elia markdown twin](/tools/darrenburns-elia/alternatives.md)), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes. ### Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison? Yes. The markdown twin at [this comparison](/compare/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl-vs-darrenburns-elia.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, axolotl or elia? axolotl: Very active. elia: Dormant. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance. ### Where are the full trust reports for axolotl and elia? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [axolotl trust report](/tools/axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl/trust); [elia trust report](/tools/darrenburns-elia/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=axolotl-ai-cloud-axolotl) - LLM index: [/llms.txt](/llms.txt) - Full corpus: [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt) _GraphCanon - The knowledge graph for AI development. https://www.graphcanon.com/_