Chat without a connection
You write, the AI answers, and nothing leaves your computer. It works on the train, on a plane, or in a room with no network.
AI tools · On your computer
Ollama pricing, use cases, and first steps
Ollama is free software that installs an AI model directly on your computer. You write to it as you would to ChatGPT, but nothing goes to the internet: your text and files stay on your machine. In exchange, the answers are slower and weaker than those of the major online assistants.
Ollama has a free plan. The recommended plan to start with: Free, $0. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
OllamaAn AI model that runs on your computer, even without internet- Vendor
- Ollama Inc. (United States)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Recommended plan
- Free, $0
- Page checked on
- October 3, 2026
What Ollama does
Who it’s for: people who handle text they are not allowed to put online: HR, finance, legal, management.
Ask about a PDF or a text
You drag a text file or a PDF into the window. The AI reads it locally and answers your questions about it.
Read an image
With a model that can read images, such as Gemma, you drag in a photo or a screenshot and ask your question about it.
Also
- Choose your model
- Have it read longer documents
- Bigger models, hosted by Ollama
- Connect Ollama to Claude or ChatGPT on desktop
- Keyboard-only control
Ollama pricing
Prices published in dollars. Monthly credits do not roll over from one month to the next.
| Plan | Price | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Free Recommended to start | $0 | Everyone, for offline use |
| Pro | $20 per month (or $200 per year) | People who want bigger models without changing computers |
| Max | $100 per month | Heavy use, mostly for developers |
| Team | $500 per month, for the whole team (early access) | Teams that share a budget |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Large organizations |
What the free plan includes
Use on your computer is free: the software, the models to download, and the chats. The free plan also includes a few starter credits to try the online models.
Nova’s advice
Pay nothing. The point of Ollama is offline use, and it is free. The paid plans are only for models hosted on Ollama’s servers: in that case, your text goes over the internet, and a regular online assistant will often do better.
A first try, in 10 minutes
Your data. In local use, Ollama sees neither your questions nor your files: everything stays on your computer.
What it does less well
- The answers are weaker than those of ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. An office computer can only run small models: they make more mistakes and follow long prompts less well.
- It is slower, especially without an Apple M-series chip or a recent graphics card. On an older computer, you wait for every answer.
Summarize an internal memo without sending it onlineOllama- Open Ollama and choose the “gemma4:e2b” model. Let it download (up to 7.5 GB).
- Turn off Wi-Fi, to prove to yourself that everything stays on your computer.
- Paste an internal memo or meeting summary into the input field, followed by the prompt below.
- Read the answer. If it is too vague, ask: “Be more specific about the decisions.”
- Reread with your original text in front of you: a small model forgets or distorts more often than an online assistant.
The prompt to copy
Summarize this text in three points, using simple sentences. End with the list of decisions made and questions left open.
Jobs that use Ollama
In the starter kit for one job.
Alternatives to Ollama
LM Studio
Same principle, with a more guided app for choosing and downloading a model.
Jan
Free and open, it downloads a first model by itself at startup.
Msty
To compare local models and online models in the same window.
Duck.ai
If you want discretion without installing anything: an online assistant with no account.
Mistral Vibe
A European online assistant, far more capable than a local model.
Frequently asked questions about Ollama
How much does Ollama cost?
Free: $0; Pro: $20 per month (or $200 per year); Max: $100 per month; Team: $500 per month, for the whole team (early access); Enterprise: custom pricing. Prices checked on October 3, 2026 on the vendor’s official page.
Can you use Ollama for free?
Yes. Use on your computer is free: the software, the models to download, and the chats. The free plan also includes a few starter credits to try the online models.
What happens to my data with Ollama?
In local use, Ollama sees neither your questions nor your files: everything stays on your computer.
What are the alternatives to Ollama?
LM Studio: Same principle, with a more guided app for choosing and downloading a model. Jan: Free and open, it downloads a first model by itself at startup. Msty: To compare local models and online models in the same window. Duck.ai: If you want discretion without installing anything: an online assistant with no account. Mistral Vibe: A European online assistant, far more capable than a local model.
Official pages consulted
Page checked on October 3, 2026. Brands are named to identify the tools. No affiliation.