LiteLLM: Open Source Alternative to OpenAI API

LiteLLM is an open-source alternative to OpenAI API, listed in our Developer Tools directory. LiteLLM is a Python SDK and AI gateway with 20k+ GitHub stars — a unified proxy to call 100+ LLM APIs in OpenAI-compatible format with spend tracking, guardrails, and load balancing.

Compare LiteLLM with OpenRouter and Anthropic API before you choose your stack.

Key features

Unified API gateway

• OpenAI-compatible /chat/completions endpoint for 100+ providers
• Route across Bedrock, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, Vertex AI, Cohere, HuggingFace, and more
• Automatic retries, fallbacks, and load balancing across deployments
• Virtual keys with budgets, rate limits, and team-based access

Observability & governance

• Cost tracking and spend limits per key, team, or model
• Logging integrations (Langfuse, Helicone, OpenTelemetry)
• Guardrails, content filtering, and moderation hooks
• Admin UI for key management and usage dashboards

Developer experience

• Drop-in replacement: change base_url in OpenAI SDK clients
• Python SDK for direct provider calls without the proxy
• Docker and Kubernetes deployment for production gateways
• Supports streaming, function calling, and embeddings

LiteLLM vs OpenAI API

	LiteLLM	OpenAI API
License	Custom (open source)	Proprietary
Models	Bring your own keys / local models	Vendor-locked models
Deployment	Self-hosted or cloud	SaaS only
Privacy	Data stays on your infrastructure	Processed by vendor
Cost	Free software + API usage	Subscription pricing

Choose LiteLLM if you want open-source code, self-hosting options, and full control over your data and deployment.

Choose OpenAI API if you prefer a managed proprietary product with vendor support and minimal setup.

Browse more open-source alternatives to OpenAI API, or explore other tools in Developer Tools.

At a glance

License	MIT (core)
Stack	Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL
Self-hosted	Yes — LiteLLM Proxy
Providers	100+ LLM APIs
Format	OpenAI-compatible

Getting started

pip install litellm
litellm --model gpt-4o --temperature 0.7

Deploy the proxy with Docker for team-wide API management and cost controls.

FAQ

Is LiteLLM a free alternative to OpenAI API?

Yes. LiteLLM is open source under Custom. You can self-host it at no software cost — you only pay for infrastructure or optional managed services.

How does LiteLLM compare to OpenAI API?

LiteLLM gives you source code access, self-hosting, and data ownership. OpenAI API is a proprietary product focused on managed convenience. See the comparison table above for a side-by-side breakdown.

Can I self-host LiteLLM?

Yes. LiteLLM supports self-hosted deployment, which is a core reason teams choose it over OpenAI API. Check the Getting started or Self-hosting section for install commands.

Is LiteLLM suitable for production?

LiteLLM is actively maintained with a strong open-source community. Many teams run it in production as a Developer Tools alternative to OpenAI API. Review the At a glance table for license and stack details.

What are alternatives to LiteLLM and OpenAI API?

Browse alternatives to OpenAI API for more open-source options, including tools compared to OpenRouter. Explore the full Developer Tools category for related projects.