# Source: https://docs.helicone.ai/getting-started/quick-start.md

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.helicone.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Get your first LLM request logged with Helicone in under 2 minutes using the AI Gateway.

Use the familiar OpenAI SDK to access 100+ LLM models across OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and more with automatic logging, observability, and fallbacks built in.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Set up your account">
    1. [Sign up for free](https://helicone.ai/signup) and complete the onboarding flow
    2. Generate your Helicone API key at [API Keys](https://us.helicone.ai/settings/api-keys)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send your first request">
    Helicone's AI Gateway is an OpenAI-compatible, unified API with access to 100+ models, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Vertex, Groq, and more.

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="TypeScript">
        ```typescript  theme={null}
        import { OpenAI } from "openai";

        const client = new OpenAI({
          baseURL: "https://ai-gateway.helicone.ai",
          apiKey: process.env.HELICONE_API_KEY,
        });

        const response = await client.chat.completions.create({
          model: "gpt-4o-mini", // Or 100+ other models
          messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello, world!" }],
        });
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Python">
        ```python  theme={null}
        from openai import OpenAI

        client = OpenAI(
            base_url="https://ai-gateway.helicone.ai",
            api_key=os.getenv("HELICONE_API_KEY")
        )

        response = client.chat.completions.create(
            model="gpt-4o-mini",
            messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello, world!"}]
        )
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="cURL">
        ```bash  theme={null}
        curl https://ai-gateway.helicone.ai/chat/completions \
          -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
          -H "Authorization: Bearer $HELICONE_API_KEY" \
          -d '{
            "model": "gpt-4o-mini",
            "messages": [
              { "role": "user", "content": "Hello, world!" }
            ]
          }'
        ```
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    Once you run this code, you'll see your request appear in the [Requests](https://us.helicone.ai/requests) tab within seconds.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do credits work?">
    Instead of managing API keys for each provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.), Helicone maintains the keys for you. You simply add credits to your account, and we handle the rest.

    **Benefits:**

    * **0% markup** - Pay exactly what providers charge, no hidden fees
    * No need to sign up for multiple LLM providers
    * Switch between [100+ models](https://helicone.ai/models) by just changing the model name
    * Automatic fallbacks if a provider is down
    * Unified billing across all providers

    Want more control? You can [bring your own provider keys](https://us.helicone.ai/providers) instead.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## What's Next?

Now that data is flowing, explore what Helicone can do for you:

<Card title="Explore The Platform" href="/getting-started/platform-overview" icon="rocket" horizontal>
  Understand how Helicone solves common LLM development challenges.
</Card>

## Questions?

Although we designed the docs to be as self-serving as possible, you are
welcome to join our [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/HwUbV3Q8qz) or
contact [help@helicone.ai](mailto:help@helicone.ai) with any questions or feedback
you have.