Ollama vs Open WebUI
| Ollama | Open WebUI | |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Model runtime and local API server | Web chat UI and frontend |
| Interface | CLI-first (ollama run, ollama pull) | Browser-based chat, settings, and admin |
| API | OpenAI-compatible server on port 11434 | Connects to Ollama, LM Studio, or other backends |
| Best for | Scripts, Docker, headless servers | Local chat UI, multi-user setups, RAG workflows |
Verdict
Ollama runs the models; Open WebUI is the interface. Use both together for a full local chat experience.