Top LiteLLM Alternatives in 2026, Compared
By API7.ai Team
Last updated: July 2026
LiteLLM is a popular Python SDK and proxy for calling many LLM providers behind one API. Teams look for an alternative when they want a standalone gateway, routing by request meaning, a fully open-source data plane, or a managed control plane. Here are the leading options — compared honestly, including our own.
The best LiteLLM alternative depends on the need: AISIX for a fully open Rust data plane with semantic routing and ensemble, Portkey for the widest catalog and hosted governance, OpenRouter for zero-ops hosted access, and Kong AI Gateway if you already run Kong. Listed below in no particular ranking.
- A fully open, self-hosted data plane with routing intelligence: AISIX
- The widest provider catalog + hosted governance: Portkey
- Zero-ops access to many models: OpenRouter
- Consolidating with an existing Kong gateway: Kong AI Gateway
LiteLLM alternatives at a glance
A quick comparison of the leading alternatives by type, open-source scope, and best fit. None of the alternatives below is ranked above the others — pick by your constraints.
| Dimension | Type | Open source | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| AISIX | Self-hosted gateway (+ managed Cloud) | ✓ Apache-2.0 (entire data plane) | Open data plane + routing intelligence |
| Portkey | OSS gateway + hosted platform | ✓ MIT (gateway) | Breadth + hosted governance |
| LiteLLM (incumbent) | Python SDK + proxy | ✓ MIT (core) | Python teams + OSS budgets |
| OpenRouter | Hosted router (SaaS) | — No | Zero-ops multi-model access |
| Kong AI Gateway | AI plugins on Kong Gateway | ✓ OSS core | Teams already on Kong |
Why teams look for a LiteLLM alternative
LiteLLM is a capable, widely used project. Teams usually move not out of dissatisfaction but because they outgrow a specific shape.
- They want a standalone gateway instead of a Python library and a Uvicorn process.
- They need routing by request meaning or ensemble models, which LiteLLM does not document.
- They want every traffic control in a fully open-source data plane.
- They want a managed control plane for org-level budgets, roles, and audit.
How we evaluated
This guide is published by API7, the team behind AISIX and the original creators of Apache APISIX. We include AISIX honestly alongside competitors — each entry lists real strengths and the cases where LiteLLM may still be the better choice. Facts about other products are drawn from their official documentation.
- Open-source scope and license
- Provider coverage and unified API surface
- Routing intelligence: load balancing, semantic routing, ensemble
- Guardrails, caching, and observability
- Governance: budgets, RBAC, SSO/SCIM, audit
- Deployment model: self-host, VPC, or managed
The leading LiteLLM alternatives
1. Portkey
Widest provider catalog + a hosted governance control plane
Language
TypeScript (Node.js)
License
MIT gateway + commercial platform
Best for
Breadth + hosted governance
Portkey pairs an open-source TypeScript gateway with a paid hosted control plane for observability, prompt management, and governance. It advertises 1,600+ models across 45+ providers, with simple and semantic caching and a documented MCP gateway.
Key features
- 1,600+ models across 45+ providers
- Hosted observability, analytics, and prompt management
- Simple + semantic caching; documented MCP gateway
- Conditional (rule-based) routing, fallbacks, and circuit breaker
Where LiteLLM may still be better: LiteLLM keeps budgets and virtual keys in open source, while Portkey moves RBAC, SSO/SCIM, granular budgets, and VPC deployment into paid tiers; LiteLLM is also a Python SDK, not just a proxy.
Best fit: Teams that want the widest catalog and a polished hosted governance UI and are comfortable with tiered pricing and retention.
2. AISIX
Rust, Apache-2.0 gateway with semantic routing and ensemble in the core
Language
Rust
License
Apache-2.0 (entire gateway)
Best for
Open data plane + routing intelligence
Disclosure: AISIX is built by API7, which publishes this page. It is a Rust-native AI gateway shipped as a single static binary, from the original creators of Apache APISIX, fronting OpenAI, Anthropic, Bedrock, Vertex, and Azure OpenAI behind one API, with an optional managed control plane (AISIX Cloud).
Key features
- Single static Rust binary — published baseline of ~28,300 req/s saturation on 4 vCPUs, sub-ms p50 overhead at low-to-moderate load
- Semantic routing, ensemble models, and cost-/latency-/load-aware strategies in the open-source core
- In-box guardrails (Bedrock, Azure Content Safety, Aliyun) and an MCP gateway under the same keys and policies
- OpenAI and Anthropic Messages first-class, translated both ways
- Entire data plane Apache-2.0; optional managed Cloud for budgets, roles, audit
Where LiteLLM may still be better: LiteLLM has far broader native provider coverage (100+ vs five adapter families), ships semantic caching today (still on the AISIX roadmap), and offers OSS budgets and virtual keys without a managed control plane.
Best fit: Platform teams that want a low-overhead standalone gateway, routing by request meaning or ensemble, and every traffic control under Apache-2.0.
Other LiteLLM alternatives to know
Two more options come up often, depending on whether you want a hosted router or to consolidate with an existing API gateway.
OpenRouter — a hosted, pay-as-you-go router that exposes many models through one OpenAI-compatible endpoint. Best when you want zero-ops access to a broad catalog and are comfortable routing through a managed service rather than self-hosting.
Kong AI Gateway — AI capabilities delivered as plugins on Kong Gateway. Best for teams already standardized on Kong that want to consolidate LLM traffic with their existing API gateway rather than adopt a purpose-built one.
Dedicated head-to-head comparisons for these are on the way; this guide focuses on the options we can compare in depth against their official documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Related comparisons
AISIX vs LiteLLM · Portkey vs LiteLLM · All AI gateway comparisons
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