Compare · LiteLLM

A LiteLLM alternative that tests cheaper replacements, not just routes

LiteLLM is an open-source proxy that puts 100+ LLMs behind one OpenAI-format API, with spend tracking, virtual keys and many cache backends. ModelGate is a hosted gateway for four providers that adds what LiteLLM's reviewed documentation doesn't cover: finding repeated tasks, testing a cheaper model, generated code or a small open model against your recorded answers, and opening the change as a GitHub pull request.

Where ModelGate is different

  • It works from your repository as well as your traffic: findings point at the file and line, and fixes open as pull requests you merge.
  • For rule-like tasks it proposes plain code, tested against your model’s own recorded answers; when code can’t match them, a small open model may.
  • Pricing is a base fee plus a share of realized savings — see pricing for the full terms.

We found none of the first two in LiteLLM’s reviewed documentation. That is not proof they don’t exist.

Where LiteLLM is stronger

  • 100+ LLMs behind one API — ModelGate supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini and Azure OpenAI.
  • Self-hosted open source (MIT), with self-hosted or air-gapped Enterprise support — ModelGate is hosted only.
  • Redis, semantic (Redis, Valkey, Qdrant), S3/GCS, disk and in-memory caches; load balancing, routing and fallbacks.
  • Virtual keys with budgets and RPM/TPM limits per key, user and team, and many third-party guardrails.
  • The open-source proxy is free.

Stay with LiteLLM if you need to self-host, run many providers or open models behind one API, or want a free, MIT-licensed proxy you operate yourself.

CriterionModelGateLiteLLM
Request and cost observabilityAvailableEvery request logged, failed ones included, and priced against a versioned rate table. Four providers: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Azure OpenAI.DetailsAvailableLogs and spend per request, tracked by key, user, team and tag; 100+ LLMs.Source · Source
Budgets and access controlsAvailablePer-project monthly spend cap (402), requests-per-minute per key (429), token ceilings (413); scoped API keys; agency roles and per-client caps. No SSO.DetailsAvailableVirtual keys with max budgets and RPM/TPM limits per key, user and team (needs a database). SSO, SCIM and RBAC listed under Enterprise.Source · Source
Security guardrailsLimitedBuilt-in heuristic detectors: prompt-injection scoring, 17 secret signatures plus an entropy pass, 6 personal-data types. Detect on every plan; enforce on paid plans. No content-moderation categories.DetailsNative + integrationsBuilt-in content filter and Presidio PII masking; many third-party guardrails (Lakera, Bedrock, Azure Content Safety…). Per-key guardrail control is Enterprise.Source
Caching and model routingLimitedExact cache only (temperature 0, no tools, 24 h). Routing moves small, simple calls to a fixed same-provider cheaper model; retry plus one secondary provider. No semantic cache or load balancing.DetailsAvailableRedis, semantic (Redis, Valkey, Qdrant), S3/GCS, disk and in-memory caches; load balancing, routing and fallbacks.Source · Source
Repository analysisLimitedGitHub only. Reads the repositories you choose in memory and maps LLM calls to file and line (JavaScript/TypeScript and Python). Source is not stored.DetailsNot confirmed in reviewed documentationNo mention found in the pages reviewed.
Integration and optimization pull requestsLimitedA setup PR that points OpenAI SDK clients at the gateway; one-line PRs for a model switch or a lower output limit; a PR that adds a verified code replacement. Always on a new branch.DetailsNot confirmed in reviewed documentationNo mention found in the pages reviewed.
Deterministic code replacementLimitedOnly for rule-like tasks (a few fixed labels, extraction, JSON reshaping, arithmetic, simple image checks) with 50+ recorded calls and prompt and response storage on.DetailsNot confirmed in reviewed documentationNo mention found in the pages reviewed.
Validation and customer approval of changesAvailableCode replacements must match 95% of 30+ held-out recorded answers. Model-switch PRs point to an optional replay eval. Every PR is merged by you; gateway optimizations are off until you switch them on.Details · DetailsNot confirmed in reviewed documentationNot applicable as reviewed: no code-change workflow found to validate.
Deployment optionsLimitedHosted service only. ModelGate OSS is a separate local-first gateway (v0.1) with a smaller feature set.DetailsAvailableSelf-hosted open source (MIT); Enterprise adds self-hosted or air-gapped support.Source · Source
Pricing structureAvailable$99/month (1 project, +$29 per extra) or $199/month for agencies (5 clients, +$29 per extra), plus 30% of realized savings and 30% of savings from changes made from suggestions for 3 months. 14-day trial.DetailsAvailableOpen source free; Enterprise pricing not listed publicly.Source

Request and cost observability

ModelGateAvailableEvery request logged, failed ones included, and priced against a versioned rate table. Four providers: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, Azure OpenAI.Details
LiteLLMAvailableLogs and spend per request, tracked by key, user, team and tag; 100+ LLMs.Source · Source

Budgets and access controls

ModelGateAvailablePer-project monthly spend cap (402), requests-per-minute per key (429), token ceilings (413); scoped API keys; agency roles and per-client caps. No SSO.Details
LiteLLMAvailableVirtual keys with max budgets and RPM/TPM limits per key, user and team (needs a database). SSO, SCIM and RBAC listed under Enterprise.Source · Source

Security guardrails

ModelGateLimitedBuilt-in heuristic detectors: prompt-injection scoring, 17 secret signatures plus an entropy pass, 6 personal-data types. Detect on every plan; enforce on paid plans. No content-moderation categories.Details
LiteLLMNative + integrationsBuilt-in content filter and Presidio PII masking; many third-party guardrails (Lakera, Bedrock, Azure Content Safety…). Per-key guardrail control is Enterprise.Source

Caching and model routing

ModelGateLimitedExact cache only (temperature 0, no tools, 24 h). Routing moves small, simple calls to a fixed same-provider cheaper model; retry plus one secondary provider. No semantic cache or load balancing.Details
LiteLLMAvailableRedis, semantic (Redis, Valkey, Qdrant), S3/GCS, disk and in-memory caches; load balancing, routing and fallbacks.Source · Source

Repository analysis

ModelGateLimitedGitHub only. Reads the repositories you choose in memory and maps LLM calls to file and line (JavaScript/TypeScript and Python). Source is not stored.Details
LiteLLMNot confirmed in reviewed documentationNo mention found in the pages reviewed.

Integration and optimization pull requests

ModelGateLimitedA setup PR that points OpenAI SDK clients at the gateway; one-line PRs for a model switch or a lower output limit; a PR that adds a verified code replacement. Always on a new branch.Details
LiteLLMNot confirmed in reviewed documentationNo mention found in the pages reviewed.

Deterministic code replacement

ModelGateLimitedOnly for rule-like tasks (a few fixed labels, extraction, JSON reshaping, arithmetic, simple image checks) with 50+ recorded calls and prompt and response storage on.Details
LiteLLMNot confirmed in reviewed documentationNo mention found in the pages reviewed.

Validation and customer approval of changes

ModelGateAvailableCode replacements must match 95% of 30+ held-out recorded answers. Model-switch PRs point to an optional replay eval. Every PR is merged by you; gateway optimizations are off until you switch them on.Details · Details
LiteLLMNot confirmed in reviewed documentationNot applicable as reviewed: no code-change workflow found to validate.

Deployment options

ModelGateLimitedHosted service only. ModelGate OSS is a separate local-first gateway (v0.1) with a smaller feature set.Details
LiteLLMAvailableSelf-hosted open source (MIT); Enterprise adds self-hosted or air-gapped support.Source · Source

Pricing structure

ModelGateAvailable$99/month (1 project, +$29 per extra) or $199/month for agencies (5 clients, +$29 per extra), plus 30% of realized savings and 30% of savings from changes made from suggestions for 3 months. 14-day trial.Details
LiteLLMAvailableOpen source free; Enterprise pricing not listed publicly.Source

“Not confirmed in reviewed documentation” means we found no mention — not that the feature is missing. ModelGate OSS, a separate local-first gateway with a smaller feature set, is not counted here.

Trying ModelGate from LiteLLM

ModelGate speaks the OpenAI Chat Completions API, streaming included. If you call the LiteLLM proxy with an OpenAI SDK client, the change is the client's base URL and key. Model names must be ones ModelGate's four providers serve. You see the cost per task first; nothing in your code changes until you merge a pull request.

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://gw.modelgatehq.com/v1",
    api_key="YOUR_MODELGATE_KEY",
)

Full setup, providers and limits are in the documentation. To see what a repeated task looks like as code, read replacing LLM calls with code.

Sources

LiteLLM’s own product pages and documentation, reviewed 7 October 2026. Vendors change quickly — check the source before deciding.

Spotted something out of date? Tell us at support@modelgatehq.com and we’ll correct it.

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