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CLI Open source 62,333 installs/mo

ollama for Mac

Create, run, and share large language models (LLMs)

Quick answer: ollama is a AI tool for macOS. Install it with brew install ollama. It is distributed under the MIT licence. It has 62,333 Homebrew installs in the last 30 days.

What ollama is

ollama is a AI tool for macOS: create, run, and share large language models (LLMs).

It is distributed as a Homebrew formula, which builds or pours a binary and puts it on your PATH. It is distributed under the MIT licence.

How to install ollama

  1. Open Terminal (press ⌘ + Space and type “Terminal”).
  2. If Homebrew is not installed yet, run the installer below once.
  3. Run brew install ollama.

Homebrew installer, if you need it:

Prefer a graphical installer? Download it from the official site. MacPicks never hosts or mirrors binaries — the Homebrew command always pulls from the vendor's own release.

Alternatives to ollama

Compared within the same category and with a comparable install base, so the list stays useful rather than turning into a popularity chart.

LM StudioDiscover, download, and run local LLMsApp5,922/moDiffusion BeeRun Stable Diffusion locallyAppOpen source113/moDraw ThingsRun Stable Diffusion locallyApp1,199/moClaudeAnthropic's official Claude AI desktop appApp19,855/moChatGPTOpenAI's official ChatGPT desktop appApp12,860/moMacWhisperSpeech recognition toolApp817/mo

Compare ollama with its alternatives in detail →

Frequently asked questions

How do I install ollama on Mac?

Run brew install ollama in Terminal. This requires Homebrew; if you do not have it, install it first with the command below.

Is ollama open source?

Yes — Homebrew distributes it under the MIT licence.

Does ollama run on Apple silicon?

Homebrew publishes this formula for macOS. If upstream does not ship an Apple silicon build, Rosetta 2 handles the Intel binary.

How popular is ollama?

It was installed 62,333 times in the last 30 days according to Homebrew analytics, ranking #18 in this catalogue.

What version of ollama is current?

The latest packaged version is 0.40.11.