Portkey
Enterprise AI gateway + governance
- • 1600+ LLM support
- • AI guardrails and governance
- • Enterprise compliance
- • Advanced routing
portkey vs litellm
Portkey vs LiteLLM
Compare Portkey enterprise AI gateway with LiteLLM open-source proxy for LLM routing, cost tracking, and API management.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-03
LiteLLM
Open-source unified LLM proxy
- • 100+ LLMs unified API
- • Self-hosted and open-source
- • Budget limits per key
- • Minimal latency overhead
Feature and workflow comparison
| Capability | Portkey | LiteLLM |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Enterprise AI gateway | Open-source LLM proxy |
| Deployment | Managed SaaS | Self-hosted |
| LLM support | 1600+ models | 100+ LLMs |
| Guardrails | Built-in AI guardrails | Not built-in |
| Budget controls | Analytics + limits | Per-key budget limits |
| Compliance | SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA | Self-managed |
| Starting price | Free dev, Pro $49/mo | Free (open-source) |
Where AI Cost Board fits
Portkey targets enterprise gateway governance. LiteLLM provides open-source proxy flexibility. AI Cost Board complements both with dedicated cost governance — budget alerts, spend attribution, and finance-ready reporting.
FAQ
Which is better for startups?
LiteLLM is free and self-hosted, ideal for budget-conscious startups. Portkey has a free dev tier but enterprise features require paid plans. AI Cost Board starts at $9.99/mo for cost governance.
Do I need both a gateway and cost monitoring?
A gateway handles routing and API management. Cost monitoring handles budget controls and attribution. Many teams use one gateway (Portkey or LiteLLM) plus AI Cost Board for financial governance.
Which supports more providers?
Portkey supports 1600+ LLMs. LiteLLM supports 100+ through its unified API. Both cover all major providers.