Comparison
NanoLLM vs ai-gateway
Verdict
Pick NanoLLM if nanoLLM optimizes local inference for LLMs via HuggingFace-compatible APIs, supporting quantization and multimodal applications like vision, speech, RAG, and vector databases; pick ai-gateway if ai-gateway from Ferro Labs supports over 30 LLMs with integrated caching, guardrails, A/B testing, and cost controls, making it ideal for managing multiple language models in a production environment.
Markdown twin · NanoLLM alternatives · ai-gateway alternatives
GraphCanon updated 2w
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | NanoLLM | ai-gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Dormant (645d since push) As of 4w · github_public_v1 | Very active (2d since push) As of 2w · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Personal account As of 4w · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of 2w · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 1mo · osv@v1 | Published findings As of 1mo · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- NanoLLM
- Optimized local inference for LLMs using HuggingFace-like APIs
- ai-gateway
- Unified AI Gateway for multiple LLMs with caching, guardrails, A/B testing, and cost controls
Stars
- NanoLLM
- 380
- ai-gateway
- 219
Forks
- NanoLLM
- 66
- ai-gateway
- 33
Open issues
- NanoLLM
- 64
- ai-gateway
- 63
Language
- NanoLLM
- Python
- ai-gateway
- Go
Adopt for
- NanoLLM
- NanoLLM optimizes local inference for LLMs via HuggingFace-compatible APIs, supporting quantization and multimodal applications like vision, speech, RAG, and vector databases.
- ai-gateway
- ai-gateway from Ferro Labs supports over 30 LLMs with integrated caching, guardrails, A/B testing, and cost controls, making it ideal for managing multiple language models in a production environment.
Persona
- NanoLLM
- -
- ai-gateway
- -
Runtime
- NanoLLM
- -
- ai-gateway
- -
License
- NanoLLM
- MIT
- ai-gateway
- Apache-2.0 - a permissive free software license
Last pushed
- NanoLLM
- Oct 18, 2024
- ai-gateway
- Aug 7, 2026
Categories
- NanoLLM
- Computer Vision, Inference & Serving, Speech & Audio, Vector Databases
- ai-gateway
- Inference & Serving, Model Training
Trust and health
Maintenance
- NanoLLM
- Dormant (18%)
- ai-gateway
- Very active (96%)
Days since push
- NanoLLM
- 645d
- ai-gateway
- 2d
Open issues (now)
- NanoLLM
- 64
- ai-gateway
- 63
Owner type
- NanoLLM
- User
- ai-gateway
- Organization
OSV dependency advisories
- NanoLLM
- No lockfile (source not queried)
- ai-gateway
- Published findings
Full report
- NanoLLM
- Trust report
- ai-gateway
- Trust report
Choose NanoLLM if…
- NanoLLM is primarily Python; ai-gateway is Go.
- License: NanoLLM is MIT, ai-gateway is Apache-2.0.
- Tags unique to NanoLLM: edge-ai, llm-inference, multimodal, rag.
- Also covers Computer Vision, Speech & Audio, Vector Databases.
- When building edge-ai solutions requiring optimized local inference
When NOT to use NanoLLM
- In scenarios where a fully cloud-based solution is preferred over local inference
- If the project does not benefit from multimodal or RAG capabilities
Choose ai-gateway if…
- ai-gateway is primarily Go; NanoLLM is Python.
- License: ai-gateway is Apache-2.0, NanoLLM is MIT.
- Tags unique to ai-gateway: ai-gateway, litellm, llm-cost, llm-proxy.
- Also covers Model Training.
- When you need to integrate more than 30 different LLM services including OpenAI and Anthropic
When NOT to use ai-gateway
- If your project only involves one or two LLMs which does not necessitate the gateway's broad compatibility features
- For small-scale projects that do not require comprehensive cost analysis tools
- When custom integration for specific guardrails is required, as ai-gateway offers generalized settings
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (dusty-nv/NanoLLM) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- GitHub forks (dusty-nv/NanoLLM) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- Last push (dusty-nv/NanoLLM) · observed Oct 18, 2024
- License file (MIT) · observed Jul 26, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (ferro-labs/ai-gateway) · observed Aug 9, 2026
- GitHub forks (ferro-labs/ai-gateway) · observed Aug 9, 2026
- Last push (ferro-labs/ai-gateway) · observed Aug 7, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Aug 9, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: NanoLLM 380 · ai-gateway 219 (synced Jul 26, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between NanoLLM and ai-gateway?
- NanoLLM: Optimized local inference for LLMs using HuggingFace-like APIs. ai-gateway: Unified AI Gateway for multiple LLMs with caching, guardrails, A/B testing, and cost controls. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose NanoLLM over ai-gateway?
- Choose NanoLLM over ai-gateway when NanoLLM is primarily Python; ai-gateway is Go; License: NanoLLM is MIT, ai-gateway is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to NanoLLM: edge-ai, llm-inference, multimodal, rag; Also covers Computer Vision, Speech & Audio, Vector Databases; When building edge-ai solutions requiring optimized local inference.
- When should I choose ai-gateway over NanoLLM?
- Choose ai-gateway over NanoLLM when ai-gateway is primarily Go; NanoLLM is Python; License: ai-gateway is Apache-2.0, NanoLLM is MIT; Tags unique to ai-gateway: ai-gateway, litellm, llm-cost, llm-proxy; Also covers Model Training; When you need to integrate more than 30 different LLM services including OpenAI and Anthropic.
- When should I avoid NanoLLM?
- In scenarios where a fully cloud-based solution is preferred over local inference If the project does not benefit from multimodal or RAG capabilities
- When should I avoid ai-gateway?
- If your project only involves one or two LLMs which does not necessitate the gateway's broad compatibility features For small-scale projects that do not require comprehensive cost analysis tools When custom integration for specific guardrails is required, as ai-gateway offers generalized settings
- Is NanoLLM or ai-gateway more popular on GitHub?
- NanoLLM has more GitHub stars (380 vs 219). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are NanoLLM and ai-gateway open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (NanoLLM: MIT, ai-gateway: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to NanoLLM or ai-gateway?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at NanoLLM alternatives and ai-gateway alternatives (NanoLLM markdown twin, ai-gateway markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, NanoLLM or ai-gateway?
- NanoLLM: Dormant. ai-gateway: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for NanoLLM and ai-gateway?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: NanoLLM trust report; ai-gateway trust report.