Guide12 min read
How to choose between open and closed LLMs
Understanding the trade-offs between open-source and proprietary models for your use case.
Open Source LLMs
Models like Llama, Mistral, and Falcon offer full control and no API costs. You host them yourself, customize them completely, and own all the data. Perfect for businesses with specific compliance needs or unique use cases.
Closed/Proprietary LLMs
GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini offer superior performance and zero infrastructure management. Pay per use, get instant updates, and leverage cutting-edge capabilities. Ideal for most business applications.
Choose Open Source If:
- • You need full data control
- • You have strict compliance requirements
- • You have infrastructure expertise
- • You need custom fine-tuning
Choose Proprietary If:
- • You want best-in-class performance
- • You need rapid deployment
- • You prefer managed services
- • You want predictable costs