Quickstart

This guide takes you from a new account to a working API call in a few minutes. No previous API experience is required.

Brand new to programming? Start with the cURL example — it works from any terminal with zero setup.

Before you start

You need:

A free LLM.kiwi account
An internet connection
One of these options: a terminal, Python 3, or Node.js

No credit card, Docker, local AI model, or server is required.

Step 1: Create an API key

Open llm.kiwi/login and sign in with Google or GitHub.

Open your dashboard

Go to llm.kiwi/dashboard, where you can create and manage API keys.

Create and copy the key

Select Create key, give it a recognizable name such as first-test, and copy the value beginning with sk_kiwi_.

Treat an API key like a password. Save it in a password manager or environment variable, never publish it in GitHub, and revoke it immediately if it leaks.

Step 2: Make your first request

Choose one option below. Replace sk_kiwi_... with your real key only for this first local test.

cURL
Python
JavaScript

Open Terminal on macOS or Linux, or PowerShell on Windows, and run:

curl "https://api.llm.kiwi/v1/chat/completions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_kiwi_..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "auto",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "user", "content": "Reply with exactly: Hello from LLM.kiwi!"}
    ]
  }'

Recent versions of Windows, macOS, and most Linux distributions include cURL. If curl is not recognized, use the Python or JavaScript tab.

Install the OpenAI package:

python -m pip install openai

Create test.py:

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.llm.kiwi/v1",
    api_key="sk_kiwi_...",
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="auto",
    messages=[
        {"role": "user", "content": "Reply with exactly: Hello from LLM.kiwi!"}
    ],
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Run it:

python test.py

Install Node.js 18 or newer, create a new folder, and run:

npm init -y
npm install openai

Create test.mjs:

import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.llm.kiwi/v1",
  apiKey: "sk_kiwi_...",
});

const response = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: "auto",
  messages: [
    { role: "user", content: "Reply with exactly: Hello from LLM.kiwi!" },
  ],
});

console.log(response.choices[0].message.content);

Run it:

node test.mjs

A successful request prints Hello from LLM.kiwi!. The raw API response also contains a choices array, with the answer at choices[0].message.content.

Step 3: Move your key out of the code

Hardcoding a key is acceptable only for a quick local test. Before you build an app, store it in an environment variable.

macOS and Linux
Windows PowerShell

export LLM_KIWI_API_KEY="sk_kiwi_..."

$env:LLM_KIWI_API_KEY="sk_kiwi_..."

Then read it in your code:

Python
JavaScript

import os
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.llm.kiwi/v1",
    api_key=os.environ["LLM_KIWI_API_KEY"],
)

import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.llm.kiwi/v1",
  apiKey: process.env.LLM_KIWI_API_KEY,
});

What just happened?

Your program sent an HTTPS POST request to /v1/chat/completions.
The Authorization header identified your account using the API key.
model: "auto" asked LLM.kiwi to select an available model.
The messages array supplied the conversation.
The API returned the assistant’s answer as JSON.

Learn the terms without jargon

Read the concepts guide for plain-English explanations of endpoints, headers, JSON, models, messages, and tokens.

If it did not work

What you see	Most likely cause	Fix
`401 Unauthorized`	Missing, invalid, or revoked key	Copy the key again and keep `Bearer` before it
`400 Bad Request`	Invalid JSON or missing field	Check commas, quotes, `model`, and `messages`
`429 Too Many Requests`	Rate limit reached	Wait briefly and retry with backoff
Command not found	cURL, Python, or Node.js is unavailable	Install it or choose another tab

For detailed fixes, open Troubleshooting.

Next steps

Understand the API

Learn the few concepts used in every request.

Choose a model

Understand when to use auto or hrllm.

Copy a complete example

Add conversations, system instructions, and streaming.

Read the API reference

See every request field and response property.

Get started

Build with LLM.kiwi

API reference

Help and resources

Before you start

Step 1: Create an API key

Step 2: Make your first request

Step 3: Move your key out of the code

What just happened?

Learn the terms without jargon

If it did not work

Next steps

Understand the API

Choose a model

Copy a complete example

Read the API reference

​Before you start

​Step 1: Create an API key

​Step 2: Make your first request

​Step 3: Move your key out of the code

​What just happened?

Learn the terms without jargon

​If it did not work

​Next steps

Understand the API

Choose a model

Copy a complete example

Read the API reference

Before you start

Step 1: Create an API key

Step 2: Make your first request

Step 3: Move your key out of the code

What just happened?

If it did not work

Next steps