openlit
OpenLIT is an open-source observability platform for AI/LLM applications, providing OpenTelemetry-native monitoring, GPU tracking, prompt management, and evaluation tools. It supports 50+ LLM providers and integrates with vector databases and agent frameworks, enabling developers to monitor and optimize AI applications from development to production.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | openlit/openlit |
| Owner | openlit |
| Primary language | TypeScript |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 2.6k |
| Forks | 319 |
| Open issues | 50 |
| Latest release | controller-0.9.0 (2026-06-10) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-07 |
| Source | https://github.com/openlit/openlit |
What openlit is
TypeScript-based platform that instruments AI workloads via vendor-neutral SDKs (Python, TypeScript, Go) sending traces and metrics to OpenTelemetry Collector → ClickHouse backend. Provides rule engine, 11 built-in evaluation types, cost tracking, fleet management via OpAMP, and centralized secret/prompt vault.
Get the openlit source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/openlit/openlit.gitcd openlit# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires ClickHouse setup and OpenTelemetry Collector deployment; Docker Compose quick-start available but Kubernetes production setup demands ops discipline.
- SDKs are vendor-neutral but initialization and configuration of OTLP endpoint must be correct; console output fallback helps during development.
- Rule engine and evaluation features require understanding of OpenTelemetry semantic conventions and trace attribute matching; documentation clarity critical here.
- Cost tracking for custom models requires manual pricing file uploads; ensure pricing maintenance process is clear before relying on cost dashboards.
- Fleet Hub OpAMP management adds operational capability but introduces TLS/certificate management and agent lifecycle considerations.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Proprietary observability lock-in preferred — If your team requires deep integration with vendor-specific observability platforms (Datadog, New Relic) without running your own ClickHouse backend, alternatives may be simpler.
- Minimal operational overhead required — Self-hosting via Docker or Kubernetes requires managing ClickHouse, collectors, and the OpenLIT service; managed SaaS may be preferable if DevOps capacity is limited.
- Evaluation-only use case — If you only need LLM evaluation and prompt management without full observability, lighter frameworks may be more cost-effective and easier to maintain.
- Simple single-model deployments — For small teams running a single LLM with basic logging, OpenLIT's feature breadth may introduce unnecessary complexity.
License & commercial use
Apache-2.0 (Apache License 2.0). Permissive OSI-approved license allowing commercial use, modification, and distribution with attribution and liability disclaimer.
Apache-2.0 permits commercial use and modification. No license restrictions on building commercial products atop OpenLIT. However, integration of third-party dependencies or deployment in regulated environments (fintech, healthcare) requires review of transitive dependencies and data residency/compliance requirements.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Project claims secure API key/secrets management via centralized vault, but no security audit or CVE history provided. Self-hosting means you own the security posture of ClickHouse, collector, and UI; ensure TLS/mTLS for OTLP and production secrets management. OpAMP Fleet Hub supports TLS but verification of certificate validation/rotation practices required. Trace data may contain sensitive model inputs; ensure ClickHouse access controls and data retention policies align with compliance requirements.
Alternatives to consider
Langfuse
Focused LLM-specific observability and evaluation; simpler deployment model if you don't need GPU monitoring or rule engine complexity.
Arize or WhyLabs
Managed SaaS observability for ML/AI; reduces ops overhead if you want vendor-hosted ClickHouse equivalent and curated evaluation templates.
Datadog / New Relic APM + custom instrumentation
Existing enterprise observability platforms with LLM instrumentation support; better fit if you're already standardized on one vendor and want unified dashboards.
Build on openlit with DEV.co software developers
Clone the OpenLIT repository, deploy with Docker Compose, install the SDK, and start collecting traces in minutes. Review docs.openlit.io for Kubernetes deployment and advanced configurations.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
openlit FAQ
Do I have to self-host OpenLIT?
Which LLM providers are supported?
Can I use OpenLIT with my existing observability stack?
What is the learning curve for the rule engine?
Software developers & web developers for hire
DEV.co is a software development agency delivering custom software development services to companies building on open source. Our software developers and web developers design, integrate, and ship production systems — spanning web development, APIs, AI, data, and cloud. If openlit is part of your ai frameworks roadmap, our team can implement, customize, migrate, and maintain it.
Ready to instrument your AI applications?
Clone the OpenLIT repository, deploy with Docker Compose, install the SDK, and start collecting traces in minutes. Review docs.openlit.io for Kubernetes deployment and advanced configurations.