kitio.aiMLX vs Jan
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. MLX starts at Free and Jan starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Unified memory use
- NumPy-like API
- mlx-lm for LLMs
- LoRA fine-tuning
- Swift bindings
- Offline model runs
- Local API server
- MCP tools
- Cloud API connections
- No account needed
| Feature | MLX | Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Apple's array framework for running and training models on Apple Silicon | Open-source ChatGPT alternative that runs models fully offline |
| Category | Models & APIs | Models & APIs |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Apple | Menlo Research |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
MLX starts at Free and Jan starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
MLX
- Fast on Apple Silicon
- Runs big models on high-RAM Macs
- Simple Python API
- Mac only
- Smaller ecosystem than PyTorch
- Some models need conversion
Jan
- Fully offline and private
- Free and open source
- Clean interface
- Fewer features than LM Studio
- Updates can change settings
- Needs decent hardware
Which one should you choose?
Choose MLX if you want:
- Fast on Apple Silicon
- Runs big models on high-RAM Macs
- Simple Python API
Watch out: mac only.
Choose Jan if you want:
- Fully offline and private
- Free and open source
- Clean interface
Watch out: fewer features than lm studio.
MLX vs Jan FAQ
What is the difference between MLX and Jan?
MLX: Apple's array framework for running and training models on Apple Silicon. Jan: Open-source ChatGPT alternative that runs models fully offline. Both are models & apis tools.
Is MLX or Jan cheaper?
MLX starts at Free and Jan starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do MLX and Jan have free plans?
MLX: Yes, fully free. Jan: Yes, fully free.
Who makes MLX?
MLX is made by Apple, based in United States.
Who makes Jan?
Jan is made by Menlo Research.
Which should I choose, MLX or Jan?
Choose MLX if you value fast on apple silicon and runs big models on high-ram macs. Choose Jan if you value fully offline and private and free and open source.