Run Claude Locally for Free with Open Source AI Models

Summary

Unlock the power of Claude, a powerful AI organizer, without relying on costly subscriptions. This guide demonstrates how to run AI models like Llama and Gemma locally using Ollama, a free tool that acts as the 'body' for various AI 'engines'. By downloading Ollama and then 'pulling' open-source AI models such as the Queen 3 or Gemma 3, you can have private, offline AI interactions. For example, the Queen 3 0.6 billion parameter model, a mere 500 megabytes, can be downloaded and run using the command ollama run queen3. Once a model is downloaded, you can use Claude Code, a free interface, by first installing it and then specifying your locally downloaded model, like Gemma 3 1 billion parameters. This allows for private, free usage of AI, though performance may vary based on the model's size and your hardware. Alternatively, for cloud-based access to a wider range of models, you can integrate with Open Router.