MLX vs oMLX
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. MLX starts at Free and oMLX 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
- Paged SSD KV cache
- OpenAI and Anthropic APIs
- Continuous batching
- Multi-model serving
- Menu bar app
- Tool calling and MCP
| Feature | MLX | oMLX |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Apple's array framework for running and training models on Apple Silicon | Native macOS LLM server with SSD KV caching for coding agents |
| Category | Models & APIs | Models & APIs |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | Yes, fully free |
| Made by | Apple | oMLX |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
MLX starts at Free and oMLX 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
oMLX
- Fast repeat turns for coding agents
- Drop-in API for common tools
- Free and open source
- Only runs on Apple Silicon Macs
- Requires macOS 15 or later
- Large models need lots of memory
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 oMLX if you want:
- Fast repeat turns for coding agents
- Drop-in API for common tools
- Free and open source
Watch out: only runs on apple silicon macs.
MLX vs oMLX FAQ
What is the difference between MLX and oMLX?
MLX: Apple's array framework for running and training models on Apple Silicon. oMLX: Native macOS LLM server with SSD KV caching for coding agents. Both are models & apis tools.
Is MLX or oMLX cheaper?
MLX starts at Free and oMLX starts at Free. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do MLX and oMLX have free plans?
MLX: Yes, fully free. oMLX: Yes, fully free.
Who makes MLX?
MLX is made by Apple, based in United States.
Who makes oMLX?
oMLX is made by oMLX.
Which should I choose, MLX or oMLX?
Choose MLX if you value fast on apple silicon and runs big models on high-ram macs. Choose oMLX if you value fast repeat turns for coding agents and drop-in api for common tools.