# A managed alternative to a self-hosted LiteLLM proxy

> Markdown mirror of https://router.one/litellm-alternative for AI assistants and crawlers. Router One is an OpenAI-compatible LLM API gateway.

LiteLLM is a popular open-source proxy you deploy and operate yourself. Router One is a fully managed, OpenAI-compatible LLM API gateway that covers the same routing and fallback needs — plus China-reachable access, local payment, and built-in billing and observability — with no infrastructure to run. Use it when you want one endpoint for 25+ supported models such as GPT, Claude, Gemini, and DeepSeek, plus Claude Code and Codex CLI workflows.

## Managed gateway vs self-hosted proxy

| Feature | Router One | LiteLLM (self-hosted) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hosting model | Fully managed — nothing to deploy or operate | Open-source proxy you self-host (managed tier also available) |
| Smart routing & fallback | EWMA latency + posted cost + 5xx rate, managed | Configurable routing and fallback you maintain |
| Observability | Per-request traces, tokens, and cost out of the box | Logging/observability you wire up (e.g. Langfuse) |
| OpenAI-compatible API | Yes — Chat Completions, drop-in base URL | Yes — OpenAI-compatible proxy |
| Provider access | Upstream access included through one Router One key | You supply and manage each provider API key |
| Accessible from Mainland China | China-reachable endpoint with published latency benchmark | Depends on where you host the proxy |
| Billing & payment | Built-in wallet: WeChat Pay, Alipay, Stripe, USDT/USDC | Bring your own provider keys and billing |

## Where a managed gateway helps

### No proxy to run

Self-hosting LiteLLM means provisioning, scaling, patching, and monitoring a proxy. Router One is managed, so you skip the ops and start with an API key.

### China access without VPN

Hosting an open-source proxy does not solve Mainland China reachability on its own. Based on the China latency benchmark last updated 2026-05-15, Router One measured 110-130ms p50 across Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen; individual networks may vary.

### Local payment built in

Top up in RMB with WeChat Pay, Alipay, Stripe, plus USDT and USDC on six chains — no foreign credit card and no separate provider invoices to reconcile.

## Switch with one base URL change

Both Router One and a LiteLLM proxy speak the OpenAI Chat Completions API, so moving over is usually a base URL and key change. Point your client at Router One and drop the keys you no longer need to manage.

```bash
# Replace your LiteLLM proxy base URL with Router One
export OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://api.router.one/v1
export OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-router-one-key
```

## FAQ

### Is LiteLLM open source?

Yes. LiteLLM is an open-source, self-hostable proxy, and it also offers a managed tier. Router One is a managed gateway — the trade-off is run-it-yourself flexibility versus zero-ops managed access with China reachability and local payment built in.

### Can I migrate from a LiteLLM proxy?

Yes. Both are OpenAI-compatible, so most integrations move with a base URL and API key change. Tools and SDKs that work against a LiteLLM proxy work against Router One.

### Do I still bring my own provider keys?

No. Router One includes upstream access and billing through a single key and wallet, so you do not manage a separate key per provider. One endpoint reaches 25+ supported models — browse them at /models.

### Which should I choose?

If you want full control and are happy to self-host, LiteLLM is a strong open-source option. If you want managed access from China with WeChat Pay/Alipay/stablecoin billing and built-in observability, Router One removes the infrastructure work.

## See also

- Canonical page: https://router.one/litellm-alternative
- Models and per-model token rates: https://router.one/models (markdown: https://router.one/models.md)
- Pricing: https://router.one/pricing
- API docs (markdown): https://router.one/docs.md
- Company facts: https://router.one/facts/company.md