What we checked on LiteLLM
Agent permissions
The gateway controls MCP tool access by key and team, so an agent receives only permitted tools.
You control access to each tool by key and by team. An agent gets only the tools that you permit.
litellm.ai/aboutChecked
Open models
LiteLLM supports locally run and self-hosted model providers including Ollama, vLLM, LM Studio, and Llamafile.
## Self-Hosted & Local - Ollama - vLLM - LM Studio - Llamafile
Model choice
Buyers select a provider-prefixed model name, while the same request format works from both the Python SDK and gateway.
Set the model as <prefix>/<model-name>, for example anthropic/claude-sonnet-5, and the same request works from the Python SDK and the Gateway.
Self-hosted
The free gateway is intended for self-hosting, and the vendor also documents air-gapped deployment for Enterprise customers.
The open-source gateway is free to self-host, forever.
litellm.ai/pricingChecked
Open-source runtime
A buyer can run the open-source gateway indefinitely on its own infrastructure without needing a LiteLLM account or license fee.
Yes. Self-host LiteLLM OSS with no license fee, forever.
litellm.ai/pricingChecked
Runs in your cloud
The gateway supports deployment in a buyer's AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, or Kubernetes environment using Helm and Terraform paths.
Production deployment guide for LiteLLM on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, or any Kubernetes cluster.
SDK languages
Python is LiteLLM's native SDK language; non-Python applications access the gateway through OpenAI-compatible client interfaces.
Python SDK: uv add litellm
docs.litellm.ai/docsChecked
Tracing and evals
Each request gets a unique call identifier and can send input, output, and exception information to supported logging systems.
LiteLLM generates a unique call_id for each request. This call_id can be used to track the request across the system.
How it meters
The OSS gateway has no license fee, while Enterprise is an annual quote based on request capacity, deployment architecture, and support needs.
Enterprise pricing is sized to your annual gateway request capacity, deployment architecture, and support needs — never per token.
litellm.ai/pricingChecked
Cost of one job
LiteLLM adds no gateway fee to model spend, but it does not publish a per-job price because underlying model providers bill separately.
LiteLLM adds no fee to your model cost.
litellm.ai/aboutChecked
Free tier
The open-source gateway is a standing free tier, self-hosted with no license fee, covering virtual keys, budgets, spend tracking, fallbacks and Prometheus metrics; a separate 30-day Enterprise trial key exists on top.
Is the open-source version really free for production? Yes. Self-host LiteLLM OSS with no license fee, forever.
litellm.ai/pricingChecked
MCP server
The gateway acts as an MCP gateway: it fronts MCP servers over streamable HTTP, SSE and stdio, lists and calls their tools, and scopes access by key, team or organization. stdio needs a flag set at startup.
LiteLLM Proxy provides an MCP Gateway that allows you to use a fixed endpoint for all MCP tools and control MCP access by Key, Team.
docs.litellm.ai/docs/mcpChecked
Bring your own key
Deployments retain provider keys in their own infrastructure instead of sharing a vendor-managed inference credential.
Nobody shares provider keys.
litellm.ai/aboutChecked
A company can buy it
Organizations can obtain an Enterprise license directly or through cloud marketplaces and authorized resellers for production deployments.
Direct, or through AWS Marketplace and authorized resellers if that fits your procurement.
litellm.ai/pricingChecked
Seat model
The vendor publishes no per-seat price; it offers SSO free for up to five users and requires Enterprise licensing beyond that threshold.
SSO is free for up to 5 users; beyond that, an Enterprise license is required.
Pooled budget
Team virtual keys can draw from a shared team budget, while optional member budgets set individual limits inside that pool.
Team budgets: Add team_id to virtual keys to draw on a team's shared budget
Admin controls
Administrators can assign scoped organization and team roles, then constrain budgets, rates, models, and member permissions.
Team admins manage keys, models, and budgets per project, tag, and model without the master key
Audit log
Enterprise records creation, updates, deletion, and regeneration of keys, teams, users, and models, rather than exposing this as an OSS entitlement.
LiteLLM Enterprise feature. Requires an Enterprise license (LITELLM_LICENSE).
Single sign-on
The Admin UI supports SSO for up to five users without charge, while larger deployments require an Enterprise license.
From v1.76.0, SSO is free for up to 5 users. Beyond that, an enterprise license is required.
Data residency
Self-hosted deployments keep processed data in the buyer's infrastructure, so the chosen deployment location determines residency.
Any data generated or processed remains entirely within your own infrastructure.
Certifications
LiteLLM states that it is SOC 2 Type II audited, with the current report available through its Trust Center.
SOC 2 Type II. Our current report is available through the LiteLLM Trust Center.
LiteLLM price and terms
Terms
- Free plan
- YesYesOpen-source, self-hosted gateway
The terms in full
free forever with no license fee. Underlying model-provider usage is separate.
What needs a higher plan
- Enterprise
- Audit log
For AI agents
- MCP server
- Yes
Pricing page, captured
litellm.ai/pricing, checked
LiteLLM alternatives
All 2 alternatives- This spot is openBe the first agent people see on LiteLLM's page.
- First on your rivals' pages
- Top of your category
- First in the home page list
- First in search results
- In comparisons and guides
- In the weekly newsletter
- Visits and AI reads each month
LiteLLM and its 2 alternatives
All 2 publish a price.
LiteLLM beside its alternatives: the price on each one's site, all checked 29 Oct Tool Price LiteLLM Free OpenRouter Free Portkey Free, then $49 a month All checked
See all 2
Questions about LiteLLM
- How much does LiteLLM cost?
- LiteLLM is free to use. From litellm.ai/pricing, checked 29 October 2026.
- Does LiteLLM have an API or an MCP server?
- It has an MCP server.
- Is LiteLLM open source, and can you host it yourself?
- You can host it yourself.
- What have we checked on LiteLLM?
- 21 facts, under these headings: How much it does unattended, which models it runs on, whose machine it runs on, building with it, what it costs to run, buying it for a team, what happens to your code.
- How do we check LiteLLM?
- We hold 21 facts on LiteLLM, quoted from 12 pages. Facts and price last checked 29 October 2026.
Sources and changes
Last changed
Sources12
- litellm.ai/pricing
- litellm.ai/about
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/data_security
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/enterprise
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/providers
- docs.litellm.ai/docs
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/mcp
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/admin_ui_sso
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/audit_logs
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/deploy
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/logging
- docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users
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