Helicone
Open-source AI gateway + observability
- • Open-source with self-hosting option
- • One-line base-URL integration
- • Built-in caching and rate limiting
- • Usage cost tracking
helicone vs portkey
Helicone vs Portkey
Compare Helicone open-source gateway with Portkey enterprise AI gateway for LLM observability and cost monitoring.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-03
Portkey
Enterprise AI gateway + governance
- • 1600+ LLM support
- • AI guardrails and governance
- • Enterprise compliance (SOC2, HIPAA)
- • Advanced routing and load balancing
Feature and workflow comparison
| Capability | Helicone | Portkey |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Open-source gateway + observability | Enterprise AI gateway + governance |
| LLM support | 100+ models | 1600+ models |
| Open source | Yes (MIT license) | No (proprietary) |
| Gateway routing | Basic proxy | Advanced routing + load balancing |
| Guardrails | Not built-in | Built-in AI guardrails |
| Cost tracking | Usage analytics | Budget controls + analytics |
| Starting price | Free tier (10k req) | Free dev tier, Pro $49/mo |
Where AI Cost Board fits
Both Helicone and Portkey focus on gateway and observability features. AI Cost Board complements either by providing dedicated cost governance — budget alerts, project-level spend attribution, anomaly detection, and finance-ready reporting that gateway tools treat as secondary.
FAQ
Is Helicone or Portkey better for cost monitoring?
Both offer cost visibility as part of their gateway features. Neither is a dedicated cost governance tool. For focused budget controls, alerts, and attribution, teams add AI Cost Board.
Which supports more LLM providers?
Portkey supports 1600+ LLMs, significantly more than Helicone. However, both cover all major providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.).
Can I use AI Cost Board with either gateway?
Yes. AI Cost Board works alongside any gateway via direct API key integration, adding cost governance without changing your gateway setup.