---
title: Connect to any LLM
description: Comprehensive guide on integrating CrewAI with various Large Language Models (LLMs) using LiteLLM, including supported providers and configuration options.
icon: brain-circuit
mode: "wide"
---
## Connect CrewAI to LLMs
CrewAI connects to LLMs through native SDK integrations for the most popular providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Azure, and AWS Bedrock), and uses LiteLLM as a flexible fallback for all other providers.
By default, CrewAI uses the `gpt-4o-mini` model. This is determined by the `OPENAI_MODEL_NAME` environment variable, which defaults to "gpt-4o-mini" if not set.
You can easily configure your agents to use a different model or provider as described in this guide.
## Supported Providers
LiteLLM supports a wide range of providers, including but not limited to:
- OpenAI
- Anthropic
- Google (Vertex AI, Gemini)
- Azure OpenAI
- AWS (Bedrock, SageMaker)
- Cohere
- VoyageAI
- Hugging Face
- Ollama
- Mistral AI
- Replicate
- Together AI
- AI21
- Cloudflare Workers AI
- DeepInfra
- Groq
- SambaNova
- Nebius AI Studio
- [NVIDIA NIMs](https://docs.api.nvidia.com/nim/reference/models-1)
- And many more!
For a complete and up-to-date list of supported providers, please refer to the [LiteLLM Providers documentation](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/providers).
To use any provider not covered by a native integration, add LiteLLM as a dependency to your project:
```bash
uv add 'crewai[litellm]'
```
Native providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Azure, AWS Bedrock) use their own SDK extras — see the [Provider Configuration Examples](/en/concepts/llms#provider-configuration-examples).
## Changing the LLM
To use a different LLM with your CrewAI agents, you have several options:
Pass the model name as a string when initializing the agent:
```python Code
from crewai import Agent
# Using OpenAI's GPT-4
openai_agent = Agent(
role='OpenAI Expert',
goal='Provide insights using GPT-4',
backstory="An AI assistant powered by OpenAI's latest model.",
llm='gpt-4'
)
# Using Anthropic's Claude
claude_agent = Agent(
role='Anthropic Expert',
goal='Analyze data using Claude',
backstory="An AI assistant leveraging Anthropic's language model.",
llm='claude-2'
)
```
For more detailed configuration, use the LLM class:
```python Code
from crewai import Agent, LLM
llm = LLM(
model="gpt-4",
temperature=0.7,
base_url="https://api.openai.com/v1",
api_key="your-api-key-here"
)
agent = Agent(
role='Customized LLM Expert',
goal='Provide tailored responses',
backstory="An AI assistant with custom LLM settings.",
llm=llm
)
```
## Configuration Options
When configuring an LLM for your agent, you have access to a wide range of parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|:----------|:-----:|:-------------|
| **model** | `str` | The name of the model to use (e.g., "gpt-4", "claude-2") |
| **temperature** | `float` | Controls randomness in output (0.0 to 1.0) |
| **max_tokens** | `int` | Maximum number of tokens to generate |
| **top_p** | `float` | Controls diversity of output (0.0 to 1.0) |
| **frequency_penalty** | `float` | Penalizes new tokens based on their frequency in the text so far |
| **presence_penalty** | `float` | Penalizes new tokens based on their presence in the text so far |
| **stop** | `str`, `List[str]` | Sequence(s) to stop generation |
| **base_url** | `str` | The base URL for the API endpoint |
| **api_key** | `str` | Your API key for authentication |
For a complete list of parameters and their descriptions, refer to the LLM class documentation.
## Connecting to OpenAI-Compatible LLMs
You can connect to OpenAI-compatible LLMs using either environment variables or by setting specific attributes on the LLM class:
```python Generic
import os
os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = "your-api-key"
os.environ["OPENAI_API_BASE"] = "https://api.your-provider.com/v1"
os.environ["OPENAI_MODEL_NAME"] = "your-model-name"
```
```python Google
import os
# Example using Gemini's OpenAI-compatible API.
os.environ["OPENAI_API_KEY"] = "your-gemini-key" # Should start with AIza...
os.environ["OPENAI_API_BASE"] = "https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/openai/"
os.environ["OPENAI_MODEL_NAME"] = "openai/gemini-2.0-flash" # Add your Gemini model here, under openai/
```
```python Generic
llm = LLM(
model="custom-model-name",
api_key="your-api-key",
base_url="https://api.your-provider.com/v1"
)
agent = Agent(llm=llm, ...)
```
```python Google
# Example using Gemini's OpenAI-compatible API
llm = LLM(
model="openai/gemini-2.0-flash",
base_url="https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta/openai/",
api_key="your-gemini-key", # Should start with AIza...
)
agent = Agent(llm=llm, ...)
```
## Using Local Models with Ollama
For local models like those provided by Ollama:
[Click here to download and install Ollama](https://ollama.com/download)
For example, run `ollama pull llama3.2` to download the model.
```python Code
agent = Agent(
role='Local AI Expert',
goal='Process information using a local model',
backstory="An AI assistant running on local hardware.",
llm=LLM(model="ollama/llama3.2", base_url="http://localhost:11434")
)
```
## Changing the Base API URL
You can change the base API URL for any LLM provider by setting the `base_url` parameter:
```python Code
llm = LLM(
model="custom-model-name",
base_url="https://api.your-provider.com/v1",
api_key="your-api-key"
)
agent = Agent(llm=llm, ...)
```
This is particularly useful when working with OpenAI-compatible APIs or when you need to specify a different endpoint for your chosen provider.
## Conclusion
By leveraging LiteLLM, CrewAI offers seamless integration with a vast array of LLMs. This flexibility allows you to choose the most suitable model for your specific needs, whether you prioritize performance, cost-efficiency, or local deployment. Remember to consult the [LiteLLM documentation](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/) for the most up-to-date information on supported models and configuration options.