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Chainlit

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Build Python LLM apps in minutes ⚡️ ![GitHub Repo stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/Chainlit/chainlit?style=social)

FreeFree tier
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Type
Open Source
Company
Chainlit
Visit Website GitHub (40 stars)

About Chainlit

Chainlit is an open-source Python framework that enables developers to build production-ready conversational AI applications in minutes rather than weeks. It provides a seamless way to create LLM-powered apps with pure Python, featuring real-time conversational UI, step decorators, and message handlers. Chainlit integrates with popular tools and frameworks such as OpenAI, Anthropic, LangChain, LlamaIndex, ChromaDB, and Pinecone. Originally developed by Chainlit SAS, the project is now community-maintained under an Apache 2.0 license (as of May 1, 2025). It includes a quickstart guide, a cookbook with examples, and active community support via Discord and GitHub issues.

Key Features

Pure Python development for building conversational AI apps
Real-time conversational UI with message and step decorators (@cl.step, @cl.on_message)
Seamless integration with LLM frameworks (OpenAI, Anthropic, LangChain, LlamaIndex, ChromaDB, Pinecone, and more)
Open-source under Apache 2.0 license
Community-maintained with active support on Discord and GitHub
Quickstart with pip install and 'chainlit hello' to verify setup

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Extremely fast development – build apps in minutes, not weeks
  • Open-source and free to use under Apache 2.0 license
  • Easy integration with popular LLM frameworks and vector stores
  • Active community with a cookbook of examples and Discord support
  • Supports both simple and complex multi-step conversations
Cons
  • Community-maintained project with no official support from the original team
  • Ongoing development and updates may be slower without corporate backing
  • Limited documentation for advanced customization (relying mainly on cookbook examples)

Best For

Prototyping and building chatbot applicationsDeveloping production-ready conversational AI interfacesRapidly creating LLM-powered apps with minimal boilerplateIntegrating AI assistants with external tools and data sources

FAQ

What is Chainlit?
Chainlit is an open-source Python framework for building production-ready conversational AI applications quickly. It provides a real-time UI and decorators for handling user messages and tool steps.
How do I install Chainlit?
Run 'pip install chainlit' in your terminal, then verify by running 'chainlit hello'. If the hello app opens in your browser, installation was successful.
Is Chainlit free?
Yes, Chainlit is open-source and free to use under the Apache 2.0 license.
What integrations does Chainlit support?
Chainlit integrates with OpenAI, Anthropic, LangChain, LlamaIndex, ChromaDB, Pinecone, and many other tools and services. Examples are available in the Chainlit Cookbook.
Who maintains Chainlit?
As of May 1, 2025, Chainlit is community-maintained by @Chainlit/chainlit-maintainers under a formal Maintainer Agreement. The original creators (Chainlit SAS) have stepped back from active development.