Which AI CLI gives the best offline or local-model support on Windows

Jan: Open Source and Flexible Offline AI

Jan is an open-source AI tool designed for running large language models (LLMs) entirely offline. It operates on Windows, macOS, and Linux, supporting a wide variety of AI models such as DeepSeek R1 and Llama. Jan positions itself as a ChatGPT alternative that keeps all data and settings local on the user's machine, suitable for users who want full control over their AI interactions without privacy concerns.

Jan's key advantages include a clean and intuitive interface and support for importing models directly from repositories like Hugging Face. It also offers customization options for inference parameters such as token limits and temperature, enabling users to tailor the AI's responses to their preferences. Since Jan is built on Electron, it combines a GUI experience with backend CLI controls, making it a hybrid that can appeal both to developers and casual users who desire offline AI functionality without complex setup.

Jan also supports extensions like TensorRT and Inference Nitro to enhance model performance and customization at the hardware level. This makes it especially attractive for users running AI on higher-end Windows PCs with compatible GPUs. The open-source nature of Jan means a strong community and continuous improvements, with active GitHub and Discord channels for support.

On Windows, Jan's offline operation ensures no internet dependency and keeps sensitive information completely private. It provides around seventy ready-to-use models immediately upon installation, simplifying the startup process. Jan is ideal for users who want a thorough, locally hosted AI toolkit that balances ease of use with powerful customization and model versatility.

GPT4ALL: Privacy-First, Cross-Platform AI with CLI and GUI

GPT4ALL is another prominent local AI solution with a strong focus on privacy, security, and complete offline functionality on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Unlike Jan, GPT4ALL is better known for its extensive library, allowing users to experiment with about 1000 open-source LLMs from various supporting architectures including LLama and Mistral.

While GPT4ALL has both graphical and command-line interfaces, its CLI version is especially popular among developers wanting fast model deployment and scriptable AI workflows on Windows. It can run efficiently on a variety of hardware, including Apple M-series chips, AMD, and NVIDIA GPUs, making it versatile for different Windows configurations.

The tool supports local document processing, so users can have their AI model analyze sensitive text data or documents without uploading anything to the cloud—a critical feature for users prioritizing data confidentiality. GPT4ALL also allows extensive customization of inference settings like context length, batch size, and temperature for tailored performance.

An enterprise edition provides extra security features, licensing, and support for business applications, though the base version suits individual users well. With a large active community on GitHub and Discord, technical help and rich user-generated resources are easily accessible.

Users on Windows will appreciate GPT4ALL's no-internet requirement and its ability to seamlessly toggle between numerous models locally, making it one of the leading AI CLI tools available for local AI model deployment and experimentation.

Ollama: Minimalist CLI with Powerful Model Management (Windows Coming Soon)

Ollama is a rising star in the field of local AI CLIs tailored for efficient, lightweight command-line usage. Currently, Ollama is primarily available on macOS, but Windows and Linux support is anticipated soon, making it worth watching for Windows users interested in future-proofing their toolset.

Its appeal lies in its minimalist CLI approach that enables quick model downloads, deployment, and experimentation without needing cloud access or complex configurations. Ollama permits comprehensive model customization and conversion through the command line, enabling developers to tailor AI projects or prototypes rapidly.

Ollama also integrates well into various platforms and mobile environments, which is useful for developers building distributed or multi-platform AI tools. Although not yet fully functional for Windows in 2025, its CLI-first philosophy and lightweight footprint make Ollama a top contender once Windows support arrives.

LocalAI: API-Compliant CLI Backend for Scalable Local AI

LocalAI is unique among these tools because it functions as a dedicated API gateway built to run models at scale locally with full OpenAI API compliance. It is well-suited for developers who want to deploy multiple AI models simultaneously on Windows machines, leveraging Docker containers for seamless installation and GPU acceleration.

Unlike typical single-model tools, LocalAI allows multiple models to be loaded on demand and manages system resources effectively by unloading unused models and killing stalled operations, optimizing memory use. This feature is especially valuable for production environments or developers managing numerous concurrent AI workflows from a CLI or server perspective.

However, LocalAI's primary downside is the lack of a native front end, so it is often paired with third-party UIs like SillyTavern for user-friendly interaction. Its strength is in back-end AI serving and operational efficiency, making it a professional-grade tool for Windows users who want full API control and scalability offline.

LM Studio: Beginner-Friendly AI with Local Inference

LM Studio targets beginners and developers seeking an easy-to-use platform with cross-platform compatibility, including Windows. It emphasizes local inference capabilities for AI model development and testing.

While it is slightly slower compared to some other tools and primarily oriented toward GUI use, it includes core features needed to run popular AI models offline with CLI support. LM Studio simplifies the process for newcomers and those building AI-powered applications or prototypes without cloud dependencies.

Its local server-based architecture benefits developers who want to quickly test AI functionality in their projects via local APIs, making it an effective tool for Windows users new to offline AI development.

Llamafile: Portable, Fast, and Efficient Local AI

Llamafile takes a different approach by packaging AI models into single executable files optimized for performance and portability. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it's ideal for users who need quick, fuss-free deployment of local AI without technical overhead.

Supported by Mozilla, Llamafile excels in distributing models easily across different devices. It runs efficiently on modest hardware, requiring minimal updates or dependencies to keep local AI running smoothly.

Its simplicity and reliability make it great for prototyping or field deployment where users might want to run AI CLI tools offline on Windows without complex setups or large software installations.

Other Noteworthy Mentions

- Whisper.cpp: A specialized offline speech-to-text tool running on Windows and capable hardware, useful for AI projects involving transcription without internet dependency.
- Gemini CLI: A newer open-source AI agent CLI announced by Google that promises dynamic AI capabilities useful for code understanding and command execution, though primarily focused on developer workflows rather than large model hosting.

Summary of Best Offline AI CLI Options on Windows

- Jan: Best for open-source enthusiasts and users wanting extensive model options, offline privacy, and easy customization.
- GPT4ALL: Best for users prioritizing privacy, variety of models, and an active user community with robust CLI and GUI support.
- Ollama: Best for CLI purists and developers needing fast, minimal command line interaction (Windows support coming soon).
- LocalAI: Best for scalable multi-model deployments with an API gateway backend on Windows.
- LM Studio: Best for beginners and developers wanting easy local inference with some CLI capabilities.
- Llamafile: Best for portable, fast local AI model execution without hassle on Windows.

These tools represent the most powerful, flexible, and user-friendly AI CLI ecosystems available offline for Windows as of mid-2025. Choosing the best depends on specific needs around privacy, scale, ease of use, and customization. Typically, Jan and GPT4ALL lead for privacy-sensitive and fully offline model interaction, while LocalAI excels for advanced developers needing scalable AI operations locally. Ollama is a promising upcoming Windows CLI tool worth monitoring.