New API vs One API
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted local llm runners options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | New API | One API |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 61 · Good |
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 48,815 | ★ 37,009 |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenRouter, OpenAI API | OpenAI API, OpenRouter |
What are New API and One API?
New API
New API is a large-model interface management and distribution system derived from One API, providing an OpenAI-compatible gateway with richer billing, rendering and provider support. It is designed for running a self-hosted AI relay service.
- OpenAI-compatible relay
- Multi-provider channels
- Detailed billing
- Modern dashboard
One API
One API is an LLM API management and distribution system that exposes a single OpenAI-compatible endpoint while routing to many upstream providers. It adds key management, channel load balancing, usage tracking and multi-user billing.
- Unified OpenAI-compatible API
- Channel load balancing
- Token and quota management
- Multi-user support
New API vs One API: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. One API is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for New API.
Why pick each one
Choose New API if…
- OpenAI-compatible gateway
- Broad provider support
- Built-in billing and quotas
Watch out for
- Docs primarily Chinese
- Niche relay use case
Choose One API if…
- Single OpenAI-compatible endpoint
- Built-in usage billing
- Easy Docker deployment
Watch out for
- Documentation mostly Chinese
- Scaling needs external database
Frequently asked questions
Is New API or One API better?
Neither is universally better. New API has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are New API and One API free and open-source?
Yes. New API is licensed under MIT and One API under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run New API and One API with Docker?
New API: yes. One API: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, New API or One API?
One API has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for New API. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.