kitio.aiMLX vs Mirai
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. MLX is completely free, while Mirai is freemium.
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
- uzu inference engine
- Quantized on-device models
- Model conversion tools
- CLI and macOS app
- Published benchmarks
| Feature | MLX | Mirai |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Apple's array framework for running and training models on Apple Silicon | On-device LLM engine and models for iPhone, iPad and Mac |
| Category | Models & APIs | Models & APIs |
| Pricing model | Free | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes |
| Made by | Apple | Mirai Labs |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
MLX is completely free, while Mirai is freemium.
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
Mirai
- Runs fully offline on Apple devices
- Engine source on GitHub
- Benchmarks against MLX and llama.cpp
- Android support not yet available
- Commercial terms need a sales talk
- Limited to smaller models
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 Mirai if you want:
- Runs fully offline on Apple devices
- Engine source on GitHub
- Benchmarks against MLX and llama.cpp
Watch out: android support not yet available.
MLX vs Mirai FAQ
What is the difference between MLX and Mirai?
MLX: Apple's array framework for running and training models on Apple Silicon. Mirai: On-device LLM engine and models for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Both are models & apis tools.
Is MLX or Mirai cheaper?
MLX is completely free, while Mirai is freemium.
Do MLX and Mirai have free plans?
MLX: Yes, fully free. Mirai: Yes.
Who makes MLX?
MLX is made by Apple, based in United States.
Who makes Mirai?
Mirai is made by Mirai Labs.
Which should I choose, MLX or Mirai?
Choose MLX if you value fast on apple silicon and runs big models on high-ram macs. Choose Mirai if you value runs fully offline on apple devices and engine source on github.