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How you log in depends on how you access Poolside models.
Looking for a free Poolside API key? Choose Log in with Poolside Platform.

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Before you start

The steps on this page use Poolside Agent CLI. See Install Poolside Agent CLI. Other Poolside tools use the same login options and prompts.

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Choose a login option

Open a terminal and run pool login. The CLI shows four options.
Option shown in the CLIChoose it if you
Log in with Poolside PlatformWant free access to models hosted by Poolside. Recommended for most users.
Log in to an existing Poolside tenant (enterprise)Have a Poolside deployment from your organization.
Log in with OpenRouterAlready use OpenRouter, which offers free and paid access to Poolside models.
Connect an OpenAI-compatible providerRun Poolside models through another provider, your own server, or an organization gateway.
After you log in, the CLI stores the credentials so you do not need to enter them every time you start pool.

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Log in with Poolside Platform

Choose this option if you want free access to models hosted by Poolside.
  1. In the terminal, choose Log in with Poolside Platform.
  2. In the browser window that opens, sign in to Poolside Platform or create an account.
  3. Copy the API key that Poolside creates for you.
  4. Return to the terminal.
  5. Paste the key at the Enter API key prompt.
The API key created through Poolside Platform is for Poolside-hosted access. If your organization has a Poolside deployment, use that URL and sign-in method instead.

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Log in to an existing Poolside tenant (enterprise)

Choose this option if your organization has its own Poolside deployment. Your Poolside administrator gives you the API URL.
  1. In the terminal, choose Log in to an existing Poolside tenant (enterprise).
  2. Enter the API URL provided by your organization.
  3. Choose how to authenticate:
    • Log in via browser: Complete the sign-in in the browser window that opens.
    • Provide API token: Paste your token at the Enter API token prompt.

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Log in with OpenRouter

Choose this option if you already use OpenRouter. OpenRouter offers free and paid access to Poolside models.
  1. In the terminal, choose Log in with OpenRouter.
  2. Go to OpenRouter API keys, sign in, and create an API key.
  3. Return to the terminal.
  4. Paste the key at the Enter API key prompt.
To see which Poolside models OpenRouter offers, go to openrouter.ai/poolside. You can chat with a model in OpenRouter Chat before you set up a tool.

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Connect an OpenAI-compatible provider

Choose this option if you have access to an endpoint that serves Poolside models through an OpenAI-compatible API, such as:
  • A third-party inference provider, such as Baseten
  • A model server you run yourself, such as vLLM or Ollama
  • Your organization’s internal gateway or proxy
  1. In the terminal, choose Connect an OpenAI-compatible provider.
  2. Enter the base URL for your provider’s OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
  3. Paste your provider’s API key at the Enter API key prompt.
Your provider, server administrator, or organization supplies both values. Poolside cannot create them for you.
If your server does not validate API keys, enter any non-empty value at the Enter API key prompt, such as local-test.If you run a local model server, or use a provider that does not list models from its API, set the model name before starting pool:
POOLSIDE_STANDALONE_MODEL=<model-name> pool

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Verify your login

Run: 
pool
When your credentials work, pool starts an interactive session and shows a Connected to agent server: message. If the CLI cannot connect, see Troubleshoot Poolside Agent CLI.

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Switch accounts or providers

Log out, then log in again with a different option: 
pool logout
pool login

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Next steps