Practical overview
When it fits
Use Gpt Load when you want to operate a self-hosted gateway between client applications and multiple AI provider channels, while retaining native OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini interfaces for clients.
Who it is for
- Developers who need a single gateway endpoint for applications using multiple AI service credentials.
- Teams operating their own AI routing infrastructure and managing provider, model and credential settings.
Documented uses
- Give client applications one base URL and AccessKey for configured AI services.
- Distribute requests across credentials using scheduling and weights.
- Apply retries, cooldowns, blacklisting and session affinity to manage credential failures and load.
- Review gateway health, routes, request logs, usage and cost estimates.
Requirements & limits
The project is open source under the MIT license. Its documented deployment model is self-hosted.
- The gateway is deployed and operated by the project user rather than used as a hosted model service.
- Provider credentials, models and routing policies are configured through its management interface.
- Documented storage options are SQLite, MySQL and PostgreSQL; the project also describes local credential encryption.
- Clients can keep native OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini interfaces while connecting through the gateway.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Start GPT-Load with Docker Compose and complete initial gateway configuration
Start the service, sign in to its console, and configure a channel, group, and AccessKey.
Before you start
- Docker and Docker Compose
Steps
Clone the repository, enter its directory, copy
.env.exampleto.env, and start the service with the command below.docker compose up -dCheck service health at
http://127.0.0.1:3001/health, then retrieve the generated management key with the command below.docker compose exec gpt-load sh -c 'cat /app/data/auth.key'Open
http://127.0.0.1:3001and sign in to the console using the management key.Add a channel and credentials, complete OAuth or import credentials if using a subscription channel, create a group with its models and runtime policy, then create an AccessKey with allowed groups and client protocols.
Expected outcome
GPT-Load is running and the console has a configured upstream group and an AccessKey that can be given to an application.
Guide limitations
- The service listens on the loopback address by default and is not exposed to the internet.
- For subscription channels, OAuth clients use fixed callback ports; only one default Compose instance can run on a host at a time.
- With SSH or a remote browser, the browser's localhost may not reach GPT-Load; paste the full callback URL into the authorization dialog.
- Version 2.0 cannot open, import, or migrate 1.x data in place.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 7 October 2026
- Original website title
- tbphp/gpt-load · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

