Where a workflow runs

Compare local models, Partner Nodes, Comfy Cloud nodes, and the Comfy Cloud app.

A template is a ready-made workflow. It does not tell you by itself whether generation happens on your computer or on a hosted service. Look at the nodes and the model requirements in that workflow.

What you use	Where the generation runs	What you typically need
Local model nodes	On your own device	Compatible hardware and model files downloaded to your device
API nodes (Partner Nodes)	On a partner’s hosted service	Internet access, a Comfy account, and credits for paid calls
Comfy Cloud nodes	On Comfy’s hosted GPUs	Internet access, a Comfy account, and credits

Partner Nodes and Comfy Cloud nodes can appear alongside local nodes in a workflow. A single workflow can use more than one execution method.

Local models

A local model is a file you download and select in a loader node. ComfyUI uses your own hardware to run it. The file may be large, and the workflow cannot run until all required files are available in the expected folders. Learn about model files.

Partner Nodes

Partner Nodes call external hosted models from inside a ComfyUI workflow. You do not download that model’s weights, but paid calls require credits and a Comfy account. The price depends on the node and its settings. Check the node’s cost information and the Partner Node pricing guide before you run it. Learn how Partner Nodes work.

Comfy Cloud nodes and the Comfy Cloud app

A Comfy Cloud node is a node in a workflow that runs a curated model on Comfy’s GPUs. It uses credits and does not require you to download that model. See Comfy Cloud nodes.

The Comfy Cloud app is the entire ComfyUI interface hosted in your browser. You can open templates there without installing ComfyUI locally. It is different from adding a Comfy Cloud node to a workflow on your own computer. See Comfy Cloud.

If a template will not run

Read the message ComfyUI shows. A missing model means a local file must be downloaded or selected. A missing node means the workflow needs an unavailable node. A sign-in or credit message usually comes from a hosted node. Find the next step for each symptom.