FLUX on Mac: what runs on your machine?
FLUX can run locally on Apple Silicon through Draw Things, ComfyUI or mflux. The usable build depends on its complete component bundle, runtime memory costs and your Mac, not the denoiser file alone.
Open the FLUX table at your memory size. A verdict marked Published comes from a dated run by a named source; unknown means no published run or sourced memory figure covers that size yet.
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Which app should you use for FLUX?
- Draw Things is a native offline Mac app with built-in model downloads, community model and LoRA imports, and integrated editing tools.
- ComfyUI provides a node graph, reusable workflows, a local API and custom nodes. FLUX GGUF files use the separate ComfyUI-GGUF custom-node pack.
- mflux runs supported image models through native MLX. Its documented options include on-the-fly quantization, saved quantized models and a low-RAM mode.
No official matched-hardware benchmark establishes a universal speed or memory winner between these apps.
Which FLUX build fits your Mac?
Open your unified-memory size. Each row counts the complete download (denoiser, text encoder and VAE), not the denoiser file alone. A verdict holds for the build and app shown, not for every workflow.
Run counts fit and tight verdicts; unknown means no verdict is established. Time appears only for an exact published match.
8 GB unified memory3 no
| Model | Fits | Time | Quality | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 [dev]FLUX Non-Commercial License | Does not fit est.Complete: BF16 safetensors112.8 GB download | unknown | #38 of 82 in text to image77,988 votessnapshot 2026-10-07 | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, ComfyUI, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX.2 [klein]Apache 2.0 (4B), FLUX Non-Commercial License (9B) | Does not fit est.Complete: Klein 4B BF1616.0 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX 3 Image KleinFLUX Kommunity License v1.0 | Does not fit est.Complete: mflux 4-bit20.3 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | Diffusers, mflux |
Quality: blind human votes from Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-07. Scores are for the Arena checkpoint, not your local quantized build.
16 GB unified memory2 unknown · 1 no
| Model | Fits | Time | Quality | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 [dev]FLUX Non-Commercial License | Does not fit est.Complete: BF16 safetensors112.8 GB download | unknown | #38 of 82 in text to image77,988 votessnapshot 2026-10-07 | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, ComfyUI, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX.2 [klein]Apache 2.0 (4B), FLUX Non-Commercial License (9B) | unknownComplete: Klein 4B BF1616.0 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX 3 Image KleinFLUX Kommunity License v1.0 | unknownComplete: Q4_K_M GGUF12.9 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | Diffusers, mflux |
Quality: blind human votes from Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-07. Scores are for the Arena checkpoint, not your local quantized build.
24 GB unified memory2 unknown · 1 no
| Model | Fits | Time | Quality | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 [dev]FLUX Non-Commercial License | Does not fit est.Complete: BF16 safetensors112.8 GB download | unknown | #38 of 82 in text to image77,988 votessnapshot 2026-10-07 | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, ComfyUI, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX.2 [klein]Apache 2.0 (4B), FLUX Non-Commercial License (9B) | unknownComplete: Klein 4B BF1616.0 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX 3 Image KleinFLUX Kommunity License v1.0 | unknownComplete: mflux 4-bit20.3 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | Diffusers, mflux |
Quality: blind human votes from Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-07. Scores are for the Arena checkpoint, not your local quantized build.
32 GB unified memory1 run · 1 unknown · 1 no
| Model | Fits | Time | Quality | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 [dev]FLUX Non-Commercial License | Does not fit est.Complete: BF16 safetensors112.8 GB download | unknown | #38 of 82 in text to image77,988 votessnapshot 2026-10-07 | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, ComfyUI, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX.2 [klein]Apache 2.0 (4B), FLUX Non-Commercial License (9B) | unknownComplete: Klein 4B BF1616.0 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX 3 Image KleinFLUX Kommunity License v1.0 | Runs · PublishedComplete: mflux 4-bit20.3 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | Diffusers, mflux |
Quality: blind human votes from Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-07. Scores are for the Arena checkpoint, not your local quantized build.
48 GB unified memory1 run · 2 unknown
| Model | Fits | Time | Quality | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 [dev]FLUX Non-Commercial License | unknownComplete: Q4_K_M GGUF34.8 GB download | unknown | #38 of 82 in text to image77,988 votessnapshot 2026-10-07 | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, ComfyUI, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX.2 [klein]Apache 2.0 (4B), FLUX Non-Commercial License (9B) | unknownComplete: Klein 4B BF1616.0 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX 3 Image KleinFLUX Kommunity License v1.0 | Runs · Published on M1 Max · 32 GBComplete: mflux 4-bit20.3 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | Diffusers, mflux |
Quality: blind human votes from Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-07. Scores are for the Arena checkpoint, not your local quantized build.
64 GB unified memory1 run · 2 unknown
| Model | Fits | Time | Quality | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 [dev]FLUX Non-Commercial License | unknownComplete: Q4_K_M GGUF34.8 GB download | unknown | #38 of 82 in text to image77,988 votessnapshot 2026-10-07 | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, ComfyUI, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX.2 [klein]Apache 2.0 (4B), FLUX Non-Commercial License (9B) | unknownComplete: Klein 4B BF1616.0 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX 3 Image KleinFLUX Kommunity License v1.0 | Runs · Published on M1 Max · 32 GBComplete: mflux 4-bit20.3 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | Diffusers, mflux |
Quality: blind human votes from Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-07. Scores are for the Arena checkpoint, not your local quantized build.
96 GB unified memory3 run
| Model | Fits | Time | Quality | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 [dev]FLUX Non-Commercial License | Runs · PublishedComplete: BF16 safetensors112.8 GB download | 1758.6 sPublished · M2 Ultra · 96 GB1024x1024 · 28 steps · BF16 | #38 of 82 in text to image77,988 votessnapshot 2026-10-07 | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, ComfyUI, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX.2 [klein]Apache 2.0 (4B), FLUX Non-Commercial License (9B) | Runs · PublishedComplete: Klein 4B BF1616.0 GB download | 25.6 sPublished · M2 Ultra · 96 GB1024x1024 · 4 steps · BF16 | No independent score yet | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX 3 Image KleinFLUX Kommunity License v1.0 | Runs · Published on M1 Max · 32 GBComplete: mflux 4-bit20.3 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | Diffusers, mflux |
Quality: blind human votes from Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-07. Scores are for the Arena checkpoint, not your local quantized build.
128 GB unified memory3 run
| Model | Fits | Time | Quality | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX.2 [dev]FLUX Non-Commercial License | Runs · Published on M2 Ultra · 96 GBComplete: BF16 safetensors112.8 GB download | unknown | #38 of 82 in text to image77,988 votessnapshot 2026-10-07 | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, ComfyUI, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX.2 [klein]Apache 2.0 (4B), FLUX Non-Commercial License (9B) | Runs · Published on M2 Ultra · 96 GBComplete: Klein 4B BF1616.0 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | flux-2-swift-mlx, Diffusers, stable-diffusion.cpp |
| FLUX 3 Image KleinFLUX Kommunity License v1.0 | Runs · Published on M1 Max · 32 GBComplete: mflux 4-bit20.3 GB download | unknown | No independent score yet | Diffusers, mflux |
Quality: blind human votes from Arena (arena.ai), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-07. Scores are for the Arena checkpoint, not your local quantized build.
How should you choose a file format?
Use a build supported by your chosen app and check every required component. SafeTensors, GGUF and MLX builds are different routes, not interchangeable names for one download.
FP8 storage does not guarantee FP8 computation or a fixed runtime memory footprint on MPS. Quantization can reduce weight storage, but activations, text encoders, VAE decode and application overhead still matter.
How do you start a local FLUX workflow?
- Pick an app and a model build listed for that app.
- Download the complete required bundle and check its license before commercial use.
- Start with the documented workload for any published measurement. A different resolution, step count or editor can change memory use and time.
- If the table says unknown, no published run or sourced memory figure covers that size yet. Do not treat unknown as a pass.
Frequently asked questions
Can FLUX run locally on a Mac?
Yes. Draw Things, ComfyUI and mflux provide local Apple Silicon routes for supported FLUX models. Use the memory table to compare complete builds and app-specific fit verdicts.
Can a 16 GB Mac run FLUX?
Open the 16 GB tier in the table. The answer depends on the exact model, quantization, required components and app. The guide does not infer a verdict from the denoiser file alone.
Is mflux the same as ComfyUI?
No. mflux uses native MLX and its own supported model layouts. ComfyUI uses PyTorch with MPS on Apple Silicon and a node-based workflow system.
Does FP8 always save memory on a Mac?
No. ComfyUI can select another compute dtype or retain FP8 depending on device support and available memory. Runtime memory also includes more than stored weights.
Sources
Official documentation and source code unless the label identifies an individual issue report.