Helicone AI
FreeOpen-source LLM observability platform for logging, monitoring, and debugging AI applications. [#opensource](https://github.com/Helicone/helicone)
FreeFree tier
About Helicone AI
Helicone is an open-source LLM observability platform that enables developers to route, debug, and analyze AI applications. It offers logging, monitoring, caching, rate limiting, prompts management, experimentation, evaluation, user analytics, and alerting. With a one-line integration, flexible pricing, and support for multiple LLM providers, Helicone helps teams build reliable and cost-efficient AI apps at scale.
Key Features
Logging and monitoring of LLM requests
Caching to reduce costs and latency
Rate limiting and automatic fallbacks
Prompts management and experimentation
User analytics and session tracking
Alerts and reports on usage
HQL (Helicone Query Language) for custom queries
Open-source with flexible deployment (cloud/on-prem)
Supports multiple LLM providers (provider-agnostic)
1-line integration with existing code
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open-source with community support and self-hosting option
- Generous free tier (10,000 requests/month, 1 GB storage)
- One-line integration for quick setup
- Intuitive UI and easy navigation
- Flexible pricing with pay-as-you-go and startup discounts
- Caching feature significantly reduces request costs and latency
- 7-day free trial on paid plans
- Supports SOC-2, HIPAA, and SAML SSO on higher tiers
Cons
- Usage-based pricing can become expensive at very high volumes
- Free tier limited to 10,000 requests and 1 GB storage
- Advanced compliance (SOC-2, HIPAA) only available on Team and Enterprise plans
- Newer platform with smaller community compared to incumbents
- Learning curve for mastering HQL and advanced analytics features
Best For
Routing and managing AI application trafficDebugging and analyzing production AI behaviorOptimizing AI costs through caching and rate limitsMonitoring AI app performance and user analyticsRunning experiments and evaluations on prompts and models
FAQ
What do I get with the free plan?
The Hobby (free) plan includes 10,000 free requests per month, 1 GB storage, 1 seat, and 1 organization.
How is Helicone's usage-based pricing calculated?
Costs are based on the number of requests, tokens per request, and storage. A pricing calculator is available on the pricing page to estimate monthly costs.
What happens if I exceed my limits?
If you exceed plan limits, you can upgrade to a higher tier or pay overage charges. Limits are configurable and detailed in each plan.
Can I switch plans or cancel anytime?
Yes, you can switch plans or cancel at any time. There are no long-term contracts.
Does Helicone work with my LLM provider?
Helicone is provider-agnostic and works with most LLM providers, including OpenAI, Anthropic, and others.
Is there a plan for teams or enterprise use?
Yes, Helicone offers Pro ($79/month), Team ($799/month), and custom Enterprise plans with additional features like SOC-2, HIPAA, SAML SSO, and on-prem deployment.
Do you offer discounts for startups, students, or open source projects?
Yes, startups under 2 years and under $5M funding get 50% off the first year. Non-profits receive discounts based on organization size. Open-source companies get $100 credit. Students get free access.