DiffusionBee
The simplest way to run Stable Diffusion on a Mac.
- Stars
- 13.6K
- Forks
- 728
- Open issues
- 401
- Last commit
- 2024-10-30
Live from the GitHub API · updated 2026-10-15
What is DiffusionBee?
DiffusionBee is a native macOS app that runs Stable Diffusion locally with no dependencies to install. It covers text-to-image, image-to-image, inpainting, outpainting and upscaling, and can import custom models and LoRAs.
Key features
- Drag-and-drop install, no terminal
- Text-to-image, img2img, inpaint and outpaint
- Custom model and LoRA import
System requirements
- Platforms
- macOS
- GPU
- Apple Silicon recommended
- RAM
- 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended
How to install DiffusionBee
Summarized from the project’s README. Projects change quickly — check the GitHub page for the latest instructions.
macOS app
- 1Download the .dmg from the official website or GitHub Releases.
- 2Drag DiffusionBee into Applications and open it; models download on first launch.
Strengths
- Zero setup on macOS
- Private and offline
Limitations
- macOS only
- Fewer advanced features than ComfyUI
DiffusionBee alternatives compared
| Software | Stars | License | Platforms | VRAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DiffusionBee The simplest way to run Stable Diffusion on a Mac. | 13.6K | AGPL-3.0 | — | |
| ComfyUI Node-based interface for diffusion models — images, video and audio. | 137.6K | GPL-3.0 | 4 GB minimum for SD1.5; 12 GB+ recommended for FLUX and video models | |
| InvokeAI Professional creative engine with a unified canvas for Stable Diffusion and FLUX. | 28.6K | Apache-2.0 | 4 GB for SD1.5, 8 GB for SDXL, 10 GB+ for FLUX | |
| Fooocus Midjourney-like simplicity for SDXL: type a prompt and press Generate. | 53.4K | GPL-3.0 | 4 GB minimum, 6 GB+ recommended | |
| Stable Diffusion WebUI (AUTOMATIC1111) The classic browser UI for Stable Diffusion with a massive extension ecosystem. | 165.1K | AGPL-3.0 | 4 GB minimum (with --medvram/--lowvram), 8 GB+ recommended | |
| Stable Diffusion WebUI Forge A faster, leaner fork of the A1111 WebUI with FLUX support. | 13.1K | AGPL-3.0 | 6 GB+ (FLUX NF4/GGUF variants run on 6–8 GB) |
Related models
FAQ
Is DiffusionBee free?
Yes — DiffusionBee is open-source software released under the AGPL-3.0 license. Check the license (and any model weight licenses) before commercial use.
Does DiffusionBee run on Windows, Mac and Linux?
DiffusionBee supports: macOS.
What hardware do I need for DiffusionBee?
Apple Silicon recommended. RAM: 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended
How do I install DiffusionBee?
1. Download the .dmg from the official website or GitHub Releases. 2. Drag DiffusionBee into Applications and open it; models download on first launch.
What are the best DiffusionBee alternatives?
Popular alternatives include ComfyUI, InvokeAI, Fooocus, Stable Diffusion WebUI (AUTOMATIC1111). See the comparison table on this page.
Can I use DiffusionBee online without installing it?
If you just want results, AiLoft runs top image models such as GPT Image 2.5 and Nano Banana Pro in the browser — no GPU or setup required.
Skip the install — generate images in your browser
No GPU, drivers or Python needed. Use GPT Image 2.5 and Nano Banana Pro online and compare them side by side.