Yes, LM Studio is free for commercial use: since July 8, 2025, you can use the desktop app at work without buying a separate commercial license.
As of October 30, 2026, LM Studio’s app terms grant a license to use the software for “personal and / or internal business purposes.” Before that change, the terms told companies to contact LM Studio for a commercial license. The company’s July 2025 announcement says that requirement was removed, so no form or sales call is needed.
Free does not mean unrestricted. The terms bar you from reselling, sublicensing or offering LM Studio itself as a hosted or software-as-a-service product. The open models you download also have their own licenses, so check each one before shipping its output in a product.
The Free plan covers local models through llama.cpp and MLX, the Bionic Agent, LM Link for up to 5 devices and limited web search. Optional paid plans add US-hosted cloud models: Bionic+ costs $20 a month and Pro costs $100 a month with 5 times the usage limits. Companies that need SSO or model controls can ask about an Enterprise plan.
Related: our LM Studio Bionic power-user guide and Is Ollama free?
Source: LM Studio Blog, “LM Studio is free for use at work”; LM Studio, “App Terms”; LM Studio, “Pricing”
Image: LM Studio logo, official brand asset from LM Studio’s brand guidelines, used under LM Studio’s usage terms. LM Studio is a trademark of Element Labs, Inc.
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