---
url: https://docs.freetheai.org/guides/librechat.md
description: >-
  Add FreeTheAI to LibreChat as a custom endpoint in librechat.yaml, with model
  fetching, titles, and the API key kept in your .env file.
---

# LibreChat

LibreChat adds FreeTheAI as a custom endpoint in `librechat.yaml`. With fetch on, it lists every model your key can use.

Category: [Chat apps](/guides/#chat-apps). Before you start, you need a FreeTheAI account, an API key, and today's [check-in](/getting-started/check-in).

## Settings

| Setting | Value |
| --- | --- |
| baseURL | `https://api.freetheai.org/v1` |
| apiKey | `${FTAI_KEY}` |
| Model | `fta/zai/glm-5.3` |

## Steps

### Add your key to .env

Put your key in LibreChat's `.env` file.

```bash
FTAI_KEY=ftai_your_key_here
```

### Add the endpoint to librechat.yaml

Add FreeTheAI under endpoints.custom.

```yaml
endpoints:
  custom:
    - name: 'FreeTheAI'
      apiKey: '${FTAI_KEY}'
      baseURL: 'https://api.freetheai.org/v1'
      models:
        default: ['fta/zai/glm-5.3']
        fetch: true
      titleConvo: true
      titleModel: 'current_model'
      modelDisplayLabel: 'FreeTheAI'
```

### Restart LibreChat

Restart the server (or the Docker containers) so it reads the new config, then pick FreeTheAI in the endpoint menu.

## Tips

* With Docker, make sure `librechat.yaml` is mounted into the container.

## Common questions

### LibreChat does not show the FreeTheAI endpoint. Why?

LibreChat only reads `librechat.yaml` at startup. Restart it and check the logs for YAML errors.

## More help

* [Every API error and its fix](/errors)
* [Limits and the daily reset](/concepts/limits)
* [LibreChat website](https://www.librechat.ai) and [source code](https://github.com/danny-avila/LibreChat)

::: info How this guide was checked
Checked against LibreChat's librechat.example.yaml (custom endpoints) on 2026-09-29.
:::