# llama.cpp vs shai

> Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.

| | llama.cpp | shai |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 93/100 ✓ | 44/100 |
| Rank in category | #2 of 25 in LLM Inference | #71 of 120 in AI Assistant |
| GitHub stars | 132 663 ✓ | 630 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +3 306 | — |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 1460 ✓ | 6 |
| Latest release | b11971 · 28 Oct 2026 ✓ | v0.2.2 · 9 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Moderate | Easy ✓ |
| Official Docker image | Yes ✓ | No |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | C++ | Rust |

## Which one should you pick?

llama.cpp scores 93/100 against 44/100 for shai, so it is the safer default.

llama.cpp ships more often: 1460 stable releases in the past year, against 6 for shai.

If you want the quickest setup, shai is easier to run; llama.cpp needs more configuration.

llama.cpp is growing faster right now (+3 306 stars in 30 days).

## Details

- [llama.cpp](https://selfhost.directory/project/llamacpp) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/llamacpp.md)
- [shai](https://selfhost.directory/project/shai) (markdown: https://selfhost.directory/project/shai.md)

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Source: https://selfhost.directory/compare/llamacpp-vs-shai