Helicone
FreemiumOpen-source observability and gateway for LLM applications.
Best for: llm api observability via proxy, llm cost analysis and optimization
Verified by editorial·Last updated: May 2026·How we rank
Editor's verdict
Helicone is one of the strongest freemium tools in its category, rated 4.5/5 by 0 users. Best for llm api observability via proxy and llm cost analysis and optimization. Standout: one-line proxy setup - fastest integration in category. Watch out: less depth than Langfuse on evaluation tooling. Has a free tier; paid plans start at $80/mo.
About Helicone
Helicone is the open-source LLM observability and gateway product that ships as a one-line proxy for OpenAI, Anthropic, and other LLM APIs. The trade-off Helicone optimizes for vs Langfuse is setup simplicity: change your API base URL to Helicone, and every LLM call gets logged with cost, latency, and prompt-response data. Beyond observability, Helicone offers caching, rate limiting, and prompt experimentation. Free tier covers 100K requests per month; paid tiers from 80 USD per month. Vs Langfuse: Helicone is faster to integrate (proxy approach); Langfuse has deeper LangChain integration and richer evaluation features. Y Combinator-funded, used by SkillUp, Cohere, Sequoia portfolio companies.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓One-line proxy setup - fastest integration in category
- ✓Built-in caching and rate limiting
- ✓Strong cost-tracking and analytics dashboards
- ✓Free tier covers 100K requests/month
- ✓Y Combinator-funded with strong customer signal
Cons
- ✗Less depth than Langfuse on evaluation tooling
- ✗Proxy approach adds latency layer
- ✗Smaller mindshare than Langfuse
- ✗Roadmap evolving fast - some features in beta
Best Use Cases
- →LLM API observability via proxy
- →LLM cost analysis and optimization
- →LLM response caching
- →Prompt experimentation and A/B testing
- →Multi-provider LLM management
Categories
Helicone Preview
Live screenshot of Helicone homepage. Visit the site ↗
Pricing
Pricing verified May 2026. Verify current pricing on the official site before purchase.
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How we rank →Editorial Score
4.5/5Hands-on testing across 7 criteria
External Aggregate
4.5/5No aggregate signal yet
User Reviews on MytheAi
0Pricing Verified
May 2026Re-verified against the official site every 90 days
Editorial score is independent of External Aggregate. User reviews appear separately below.
Decision shortcuts
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Editorial Scoring
How Helicone scores on our 7-criteria framework
Output Quality
Accuracy, polish, and usefulness of what the tool produces.
Ease of Use
Onboarding friction, UI clarity, time to first useful result.
Pricing Value
Output per dollar at the realistic monthly cost for a typical user.
Feature Depth
Breadth and maturity of capabilities relative to category leaders.
Integrations
Native integrations, API quality, and ecosystem coverage.
Reliability
Uptime, output consistency, and battle-test through scale.
Trajectory
Recent product velocity and momentum vs the category.
Scores are editorial assessments based on hands-on testing and verified user data. They do not reflect affiliate relationships. How we score.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Helicone free?▼
Helicone offers a free tier with limited features. Paid plans start from $80/month.
What is Helicone best for?▼
Helicone is best suited for: LLM API observability via proxy, LLM cost analysis and optimization, LLM response caching.
How does Helicone compare to alternatives?▼
Helicone holds a rating of 4.5/5 from 0 reviews. Browse our comparison pages to see detailed side-by-side breakdowns against similar tools.
What does Helicone cost?▼
Helicone starts at $80/month and includes a free tier. Pricing may vary by plan and region - always verify on the official site.
Reviewed by
John Pham
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Founder of MytheAi. Tracking and reviewing AI and SaaS tools since January 2026. Built MytheAi out of frustration with pay-to-rank listicles and SEO-driven AI directories that prioritize ad revenue over honest guidance. Hands-on testing across 585+ tools to date.
Helicone Review (2026): Is It Worth It?
Helicone is a freemium tool with a free tier available. It holds a rating of 4.5/5 based on 0 reviews.
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