Comparison
gpustack vs ollama
Verdict
Pick gpustack when gpustack is primarily Python; ollama is Go; pick ollama when ollama is primarily Go; gpustack is Python.
Markdown twin · gpustack alternatives · ollama alternatives
GraphCanon updated today
Trust & integrity
| Signal | gpustack | ollama |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (1d since push) As of today · github_public_v1 | Very active (1d since push) As of today · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of today · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of today · github_public_v1 |
| Security (OSV) | No lockfile As of today · none | 52 low (52 low) As of today · osv@v1 |
Tagline
- gpustack
- A GPU cluster manager for high-performance AI model serving (vLLM, SGLang) and on-demand SSH-accessible GPU instances.
- ollama
- Get up and running with various large language models using Ollama.
Stars
- gpustack
- 5.3k
- ollama
- 176k
Forks
- gpustack
- 566
- ollama
- 17k
Open issues
- gpustack
- 609
- ollama
- 3.4k
Language
- gpustack
- Python
- ollama
- Go
Adopt for
- gpustack
- -
- ollama
- Ollama is a Go-based platform that provides tools for deploying and managing large language models (LLMs) like Kimi-K2.6, GLM-5.1, MiniMax, DeepSeek, gpt-oss, Qwen, Gemma using docker images, package managers, cloud and
Persona
- gpustack
- -
- ollama
- -
Runtime
- gpustack
- -
- ollama
- -
License
- gpustack
- Apache-2.0
- ollama
- MIT license - permissive open-source licensing that allows for broad use of the tool.
Last pushed
- gpustack
- Jul 10, 2026
- ollama
- Jul 10, 2026
Categories
- gpustack
- LLM Frameworks, Vector Databases, Inference & Serving
- ollama
- LLM Frameworks, Inference & Serving
Trust and health
Open issues (now)
- gpustack
- 609
- ollama
- 3.4k
Security scan
- gpustack
- No lockfile
- ollama
- 52 low (52 low)
Full report
- gpustack
- Trust report
- ollama
- Trust report
Choose gpustack if…
- gpustack is primarily Python; ollama is Go.
- License: gpustack is Apache-2.0, ollama is MIT.
- Tags unique to gpustack: ascend, genai, high-performance-inference, cuda.
- Also covers Vector Databases.
When NOT to use gpustack
- LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves.
- Vector Databases: Don't reach for a dedicated vector DB under ~100k vectors; pgvector on your existing Postgres is simpler to operate.
- Inference & Serving: Self-hosting rarely beats a hosted API on cost until you have steady, high-volume traffic.
Choose ollama if…
- ollama is primarily Go; gpustack is Python.
- License: ollama is MIT, gpustack is Apache-2.0.
- Ollama supports self-hosted and cloud-deployable models using Docker, Helm charts, and various package managers.
- Tags unique to ollama: go, llms, mistral, gemma.
- ollama ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
- Use Ollama when you require a multi-model platform supporting several large language models such as Kimi-K2.6, GLM-5.1, MiniMax, DeepSeek, gpt-oss, Qwen, Gemma and intend to deploy in various cloud or
When NOT to use ollama
- Avoid using Ollama if you are only interested in a single LLM deployment and seek simplified, model-specific solutions with tailored support rather than a comprehensive multi-model platform.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (gpustack/gpustack) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub forks (gpustack/gpustack) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Last push (gpustack/gpustack) · observed Jul 10, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (ollama/ollama) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub forks (ollama/ollama) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Last push (ollama/ollama) · observed Jul 10, 2026
- License file (MIT) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: gpustack 5.3k · ollama 176k (synced Jul 11, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between gpustack and ollama?
- gpustack: A GPU cluster manager for high-performance AI model serving (vLLM, SGLang) and on-demand SSH-accessible GPU instances.. ollama: Get up and running with various large language models using Ollama.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose gpustack over ollama?
- Choose gpustack over ollama when gpustack is primarily Python; ollama is Go; License: gpustack is Apache-2.0, ollama is MIT; Tags unique to gpustack: ascend, genai, high-performance-inference, cuda; Also covers Vector Databases.
- When should I choose ollama over gpustack?
- Choose ollama over gpustack when ollama is primarily Go; gpustack is Python; License: ollama is MIT, gpustack is Apache-2.0; Ollama supports self-hosted and cloud-deployable models using Docker, Helm charts, and various package managers; Tags unique to ollama: go, llms, mistral, gemma; ollama ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; Use Ollama when you require a multi-model platform supporting several large language models such as Kimi-K2.6, GLM-5.1, MiniMax, DeepSeek, gpt-oss, Qwen, Gemma and intend to deploy in various cloud or.
- When should I avoid gpustack?
- LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves. Vector Databases: Don't reach for a dedicated vector DB under ~100k vectors; pgvector on your existing Postgres is simpler to operate. Inference & Serving: Self-hosting rarely beats a hosted API on cost until you have steady, high-volume traffic.
- When should I avoid ollama?
- Avoid using Ollama if you are only interested in a single LLM deployment and seek simplified, model-specific solutions with tailored support rather than a comprehensive multi-model platform.
- Is gpustack or ollama more popular on GitHub?
- ollama has more GitHub stars (175,936 vs 5,301). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are gpustack and ollama open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (gpustack: Apache-2.0, ollama: MIT).
- Where can I find alternatives to gpustack or ollama?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at gpustack alternatives and ollama alternatives (gpustack markdown twin, ollama markdown twin), 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 mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, gpustack or ollama?
- gpustack: Very active. ollama: Very active. 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 gpustack and ollama?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: gpustack trust report; ollama trust report.