New API vs OpenLLM
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 | OpenLLM |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 81 · Excellent |
| Category | Local LLM Runners | Local LLM Runners |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 8,192 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, kubernetes, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 48,815 | ★ 12,547 |
| First released | 2024 | 2023 |
| Replaces | OpenRouter, OpenAI API | OpenAI API |
What are New API and OpenLLM?
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
OpenLLM
OpenLLM lets developers run open-source large language models as OpenAI-compatible API endpoints with a single command. It is built on BentoML and supports streaming, quantization, and easy deployment.
- One-command model serving
- OpenAI-compatible API
- Built-in chat UI
- Cloud deployment via BentoML
New API vs OpenLLM: key differences
New API is written in Go, while OpenLLM is built with Python. Licensing differs — MIT for New API versus Apache-2.0 for OpenLLM. New API is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 8,192 MB for OpenLLM. New API has the considerably larger community, at 48,815 GitHub stars versus 12,547.
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 OpenLLM if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 12.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is New API or OpenLLM 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 OpenLLM free and open-source?
Yes. New API is licensed under MIT and OpenLLM under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run New API and OpenLLM with Docker?
New API: yes. OpenLLM: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, New API or OpenLLM?
New API has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 8,192 MB for OpenLLM. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.