Best Local LLM for Every Mac

Pick your Mac below to see the best local LLMs ranked for its exact chip and unified memory. We match every model in our benchmark database to what your Mac can actually run — with real tok/s, setup commands, and honest buying advice. Newer, higher-RAM Macs run bigger, smarter models.

Don’t own the Mac yet? Answer three questions — the Mac Advisor picks the exact config, RAM tier included →
Comparing machines first: every Mac ranked for local AI, with prices → · want it model-first? Model × chip benchmark pages →

Mac Studio

Mac Studio M5 Max · 36GB
43 models fit · 614 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-27B — 29 tok/s
Mac Studio M5 Max · 64GB
53 models fit · 614 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-27B — 29 tok/s
Mac Studio M4 Max · 64GB
53 models fit · 546 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-27B — 27 tok/s
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 96GB
57 models fit · 1228 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-27B — 55 tok/s
Mac Studio M4 Ultra · 96GB
57 models fit · 1092 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-27B — 49 tok/s
Mac Studio M5 Max · 128GB
63 models fit · 614 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 49 tok/s
Mac Studio M4 Max · 128GB
63 models fit · 546 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 45 tok/s
Mac Studio M4 Ultra · 192GB
66 models fit · 1092 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 78 tok/s
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 256GB
69 models fit · 1228 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 85 tok/s
Mac Studio M3 Ultra · 256GB
69 models fit · 819 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 63 tok/s
Mac Studio M5 Ultra · 512GB
69 models fit · 1228 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 85 tok/s
Mac Studio M3 Ultra · 512GB
69 models fit · 819 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 63 tok/s
Mac Studio M2 Max · 32GB
43 models fit · 400 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-27B — 20 tok/s
Mac Studio M1 Ultra · 64GB
53 models fit · 800 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-27B — 39 tok/s
Mac Studio M2 Max · 64GB
53 models fit · 400 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-27B — 20 tok/s
Mac Studio M1 Ultra · 128GB
63 models fit · 800 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 62 tok/s
Mac Studio M2 Ultra · 128GB
63 models fit · 800 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 62 tok/s
Mac Studio M2 Ultra · 192GB
66 models fit · 800 GB/s
Best: Qwen3.8-Flash-Next — 62 tok/s

Not sure which Mac you have?

Use the interactive Mac checker to detect what your machine can run, browse the best Macs for local LLMs, or see the full model leaderboard.