---
title: "ChatGPT Desktop vs LM Studio"
description: "ChatGPT Desktop and LM Studio side by side: pricing, included usage, overage, BYOK, platforms, features and what each one runs. Verified against vendor pages."
canonical_url: "https://whichcoding.tools/compare/chatgpt-desktop-vs-lm-studio"
---
# ChatGPT Desktop vs LM Studio

> ChatGPT Desktop is a desktop app by OpenAI. LM Studio is a desktop app by Element Labs, Inc.. Every cell below is read from the directory data and points back to a vendor page.

## General

|  | ChatGPT Desktop | LM Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Layer | Desktop app | Desktop app |
| Vendor | OpenAI | Element Labs, Inc. |
| Website | [chatgpt.com/download](https://chatgpt.com/download) | [lmstudio.ai](https://lmstudio.ai/) |
| Platforms | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| License | Proprietary (Proprietary) | Proprietary (Proprietary) |
| Status | active | active |

## Pricing

|  | ChatGPT Desktop | LM Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | Free | Free |
| Top individual plan | $100/mo | Free |
| Team seat | $20/user/mo | Contact sales |
| Included usage | — | — |
| Beyond the plan | Rate limited, API list price | API list price |
| Part of a plan | ChatGPT | — |

## Models

|  | ChatGPT Desktop | LM Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Providers | OpenAI | — |
| Bring your own key | Partial BYOK | No BYOK |
| Local models | No | Yes |

## Features

|  | ChatGPT Desktop | LM Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Git worktrees | Yes | No |
| Parallel agents | Yes | Yes |
| Subagents | Yes | No |
| MCP client | Yes | Yes |
| Browser automation | Yes | No |
| Sandboxing | Yes | No |
| Mobile companion | Yes | No |
| Scheduled tasks | Yes | No |
| Diff review | Yes | No |
| Plugins | Yes | No |
| Hooks | Yes | No |

## Works with

|  | ChatGPT Desktop | LM Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Runs | Codex CLI | — |
| Runs inside | — | — |
| Pricing verified | 2026-08-23 | 2026-08-26 |

## Related

[Add more tools](https://whichcoding.tools/compare?tools=chatgpt-desktop,lm-studio), up to four at a time.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](https://whichcoding.tools/sitemap.md) for all pages.