--- title: "LM Studio | Ethical Stack" url: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/ catalog_version: f6baff2119d0e9158520da7fbe4232011dac79f25bd08757436d7a1dbd593db2 --- # LM Studio A desktop client for selecting and running compatible language models locally, with opt-in cloud inference and web search features. Canonical profile: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/ Scope: LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route. Published overall: 4.8; 5/6 dimensions rated. Round the equal-weight mean of available numerical ratings to one decimal; require at least four of six for an overall score. BDS status stays outside the mean; for eligible profiles, a boycott target caps the final score at 2/10 and a pressure target subtracts one point (minimum 1). Not listed and not checked do not adjust the score. ## Energy practices Finding: 2/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/#energy LM Studio has identifiable product documentation, but no measured energy footprint or clean-electricity sourcing evidence for the assessed route. Reason: 1 + 1 reporting + 0 electricity + 0 controls = 2/10. This grades documented practices and transparency. Argument: The official sources describe how LM Studio is delivered and used. They provide no dated, quantitative energy or water report for this product and no evidence tying its requests to clean electricity. The pages reviewed also name no energy-saving workload or compute control. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Per-request electricity and water use, regional power mix and independently verified clean-electricity sourcing for LM Studio remain unpublished. ```json { "method": "practices-transparency-v1", "scope": "LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route.", "components": { "disclosure": { "score": 1, "reason": "The LM Studio documentation identifies the service route, but provides no dated, quantitative energy or water report for this product.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] }, "electricity": { "score": 0, "reason": "No reviewed official source ties this workload to metered, regional or hourly clean electricity; this is an evidence gap.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] }, "demand": { "score": 0, "reason": "The reviewed LM Studio documentation names no energy-saving compute or workload setting for this route; no physical savings are inferred from speed, pricing or general configuration choices.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] } }, "actualImpactMeasured": false } ``` - [LM Studio desktop app and model catalog](https://lmstudio.ai/) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Privacy Policy (effective June 2026)](https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Terms of Service](https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) ## Training data Finding: N/A Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/#training-rights Training-data rights vary with the model selected for LM Studio; check that model’s source and license. Reason: Select the exact model and provider used by this feature to assess the training-data permissions for that release. Argument: LM Studio can use different model routes. Its product policy describes how requests are handled, while training-data provenance and permissions depend on the selected model. Review that release’s source disclosure, license and creator controls separately. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (profile): LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: The selected model name, version and provider can vary by feature or setting. Those details are needed for a model-specific training-data review. Applicability: LM Studio lets the user select a model; assess that model’s training data separately. ```json { "method": "training-rights-evidence-v1", "scope": "The stated training release or selected model", "components": null, "routeDependency": "Select the exact model and provider used by this feature to assess the training-data permissions for that release.", "modelReference": null } ``` - [LM Studio desktop app and model catalog](https://lmstudio.ai/) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Privacy Policy (effective June 2026)](https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Terms of Service](https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) ## Your data & privacy Finding: 9/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/#privacy Local chats and documents stay on the device; optional cloud models and web search process requests transiently under a stated zero-retention commitment. Reason: LM Studio’s June 2026 desktop privacy policy says local conversations and files are not transmitted. It describes cloud requests as transient, not retained after completion or used for other purposes, and says inference/search providers operate under zero-retention or equivalent terms. Model downloads and update checks still send limited technical information. Argument: LM Studio’s June 2026 desktop privacy policy says local conversations and files are not transmitted. It describes cloud requests as transient, not retained after completion or used for other purposes, and says inference/search providers operate under zero-retention or equivalent terms. Model downloads and update checks still send limited technical information. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (profile): LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Check that local inference is selected before attaching sensitive files; cloud search and model options change the route, and the app itself is not open-source. - [LM Studio desktop app and model catalog](https://lmstudio.ai/) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Privacy Policy (effective June 2026)](https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Terms of Service](https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) ## Openness Finding: 5/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/#openness LM Studio offers local model downloads and a desktop client, but its current app terms do not grant a source-code license. Model weights remain governed by each model publisher’s license. Reason: LM Studio offers local model downloads and a desktop client, but its current app terms do not grant a source-code license. Model weights remain governed by each model publisher’s license. Argument: LM Studio offers local model downloads and a desktop client, but its current app terms do not grant a source-code license. Model weights remain governed by each model publisher’s license. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (profile): LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: The cited product pages do not provide a complete source release, reproducible model pipeline and license package for the full assessed service. Individual model licenses and artifacts can differ. - [LM Studio desktop app and model catalog](https://lmstudio.ai/) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Privacy Policy (effective June 2026)](https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Terms of Service](https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) ## Worker protections Finding: 1/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/#labour Public sources for LM Studio describe the product, but do not report pay, worker voice or independent safeguards for the people who build and support it. Reason: 1 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 1/10. Documented worker protections; missing disclosure is an evidence gap. Argument: The official pages reviewed for LM Studio do not report worker pay and conditions, representation or independent follow-through across employees, contractors and AI supply-chain workers. The low evidence score records what those sources leave unanswered; it is not a finding of mistreatment. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: Pay, contractor protections, grievance outcomes and independent checks for LM Studio's wider workforce remain unreported in the cited product documentation. ```json { "method": "worker-safeguards-evidence-v1", "entity": "LM Studio", "company": "LM Studio", "scope": "LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route.", "components": { "conditions": { "score": 0, "reason": "The reviewed product and legal pages give no qualifying pay or conditions disclosure for AI supply-chain workers.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] }, "voice": { "score": 0, "reason": "No worker representation, grievance or remedy mechanism was established in these cited official materials.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] }, "assurance": { "score": 0, "reason": "No independent worker-level assurance covering the product supply chain was established.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] } }, "disclosureLimited": true } ``` - [LM Studio desktop app and model catalog](https://lmstudio.ai/) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Privacy Policy (effective June 2026)](https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Terms of Service](https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) ## Military ties Finding: 7/10 Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/#military-contracts No military relationship for LM Studio was identified in the official sources reviewed for this profile. Reason: 7 base + 0 safeguard adjustment = 7/10 (0 of 9 safeguard points; every 3 adds 1). No military relationship was established in the cited sources. This ranks above known defense ties without claiming a verified clean record. Argument: The cited product and policy material does not describe a defense customer or military deployment by LM Studio. The score reflects an unverified relationship with no published safeguards in these sources, not a confirmed absence. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (dimension): LM Studio corporate relationship; no specific deployment of LM Studio inferred Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: This source review does not cover undisclosed customers, contracts, subcontractors or deployments. ```json { "method": "military-ties-priority-v2", "entity": "LM Studio", "company": "LM Studio", "scope": "LM Studio corporate relationship; no specific deployment of LM Studio inferred", "components": { "restrictions": { "score": 0, "reason": "No binding military-specific restriction was found in the cited public pages.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] }, "oversight": { "score": 0, "reason": "No military-specific oversight or remedy was established in the cited public pages.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] }, "transparency": { "score": 0, "reason": "The cited material does not disclose a relevant military relationship.", "sourceUrls": [ "https://lmstudio.ai/", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy", "https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms" ] } }, "disclosureLimited": true, "relationship": "not-established", "relationshipReason": "The official pages reviewed describe the product, service and user terms; they do not identify a defense relationship or deployment. No identity, nationality or unrelated-company inference is used.", "score": 7, "baseScore": 7, "safeguardPoints": 0, "safeguardAdjustment": 0, "rawScore": 7, "cap": null } ``` - [LM Studio desktop app and model catalog](https://lmstudio.ai/) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Privacy Policy (effective June 2026)](https://lmstudio.ai/app-privacy) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) - [LM Studio Desktop App Terms of Service](https://lmstudio.ai/app-terms) (primary; checked 2026-10-28) ## BDS targets Finding: Not listed Assessment: https://ethicalstack.ai/products/lm-studio/#israel-palestine LM Studio is not named in the two official BNC campaign lists checked on 2026-10-28; this is not an endorsement. Reason: Campaign category, excluded from numerical scoring. Argument: The check is limited to the BNC consumer-boycott guide and No Tech campaign. Neither list names LM Studio; the result says nothing about other campaigns or suppliers. Type: argument; confidence: medium Scope (profile): LM Studio desktop app using downloaded local models, with optional Cloud Services such as cloud models or web search assessed as a separate route. Research reviewed: not recorded; evidence date: not recorded Unknowns: This check does not cover every BDS campaign, local campaign, supplier, investment or subsequent list change; it is not an endorsement or clean-record conclusion. - [BNC live Guide to BDS boycott targets](https://bdsmovement.net/Guide-to-BDS-Boycott) (campaign; checked 2026-10-28) - [BNC No Tech campaign](https://bdsmovement.net/no-tech-oppression-apartheid-or-genocide) (campaign; checked 2026-10-28) ## Reading the evidence - Assessments are provisional editorial judgments. Cite the profile and the underlying sources, and retain confidence, scope and unknowns. - Unknown, not-applicable and model-dependent are different states. Missing evidence does not establish good or bad conduct. - Company-level evidence does not establish use of a particular product or model. Account plan, model, host and route can change an assessment. - Energy scores describe documented practices and transparency, not measured request emissions. Zero component points can mean an evidence gap. - Published overall scores require at least four of six numerical dimensions. Preserve coverage and BDS adjustments; BDS itself is categorical. - No named BDS target found is limited to the reviewed campaign sources and is not approval. Personalized priorities do not change the published overall score. - Review and source-check dates describe the research, not this deployment. Fetch current primary sources when the decision requires current verification. Methodology: https://ethicalstack.ai/methodology/