Magpie alternatives
Looking for a Magpie alternative? Magpie is a free model switcher with a local API gateway for Claude Code, Codex, Gemini CLI and 26 other coding agents, so the tools it gets compared with come in three kinds: config switchers that write a provider straight into an agent's config, self-hosted proxies that a team runs as a service, and hosted routers that bill per call.
Side-by-side comparisons
Magpie alternatives at a glance
| Tool | What it is | Local gateway | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magpie | Menu-bar model switcher plus a gateway that translates OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini APIs | Yes · :3425 | — |
| cc-switch | Desktop switcher that writes vendor endpoints and keys into each tool's config | — | Magpie vs cc-switch → |
| LiteLLM | Server-side proxy for teams, runs as a service | Self-hosted | Coming soon |
| OpenRouter | Hosted routing to many models, billed per call; also one of Magpie's provider presets | Cloud | Coming soon |
Frequently asked
What is the best Magpie alternative?
It depends on what you use Magpie for. If you only switch Claude Code between Anthropic-compatible providers such as Kimi or GLM, cc-switch is the closest alternative and the more battle-tested one. If a whole team should share one proxy, LiteLLM runs as a self-hosted service. If you would rather not run anything yourself, OpenRouter routes to many hosted models and bills per call.
Is cc-switch an alternative to Magpie?
Partly. Both change which model Claude Code, Codex or Gemini CLI runs on, so they overlap on config switching. cc-switch writes the provider's endpoint and key straight into each tool's config, so the provider has to speak that tool's protocol; Magpie points agents at its local gateway on 127.0.0.1:3425, which translates between the OpenAI and Anthropic APIs. Full breakdown: Magpie vs cc-switch.
Can I use OpenRouter with Magpie instead of choosing one?
Yes. OpenRouter is one of Magpie's provider presets, so you add your OpenRouter key once and every agent can pick OpenRouter models through the gateway. That makes it a provider you use through Magpie more than a replacement for it.
Is there a free alternative to Magpie?
Magpie is itself free and MIT licensed, and cc-switch is free and open source too. With either one you only pay the model providers you connect. OpenRouter works differently: it is a hosted service that bills per call.