Comparison
llm-axe vs ai-gateway
Verdict
Pick llm-axe if llm-axe is a Python-based toolkit aiming to facilitate quick applications development with local large language models, focusing on function-calling and compatibility with models like llama3; 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 · llm-axe alternatives · ai-gateway alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 12, 2026
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | llm-axe | ai-gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Dormant (584d since push) As of Aug 13, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Very active (2d since push) As of Sep 12, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Personal account As of Aug 13, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 12, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 15, 2026 · osv@v1 | Published findings As of Jul 15, 2026 · 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
- llm-axe
- Toolkit for quick implementation of LLM powered applications
- ai-gateway
- Unified AI Gateway for multiple LLMs with caching, guardrails, A/B testing, and cost controls
Stars
- llm-axe
- 275
- ai-gateway
- 256
Forks
- llm-axe
- 38
- ai-gateway
- 35
Open issues
- llm-axe
- 0
- ai-gateway
- 68
Language
- llm-axe
- Python
- ai-gateway
- Go
Adopt for
- llm-axe
- llm-axe is a Python-based toolkit aiming to facilitate quick applications development with local large language models, focusing on function-calling and compatibility with models like llama3.
- 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
- llm-axe
- -
- ai-gateway
- -
Runtime
- llm-axe
- -
- ai-gateway
- -
License
- llm-axe
- MIT
- ai-gateway
- Apache-2.0 - a permissive free software license
Last pushed
- llm-axe
- Jan 5, 2025
- ai-gateway
- Sep 10, 2026
Categories
- llm-axe
- LLM Frameworks, Model Training
- ai-gateway
- Inference & Serving, Model Training
Trust and health
Maintenance
- llm-axe
- Dormant (18%)
- ai-gateway
- Very active (96%)
Days since push
- llm-axe
- 584d
- ai-gateway
- 2d
Open issues (now)
- llm-axe
- 0
- ai-gateway
- 68
Stars delta
- llm-axe
- Unknown
- ai-gateway
- +37 (30d)
Open issues delta
- llm-axe
- Unknown
- ai-gateway
- +5 (30d)
Owner type
- llm-axe
- User
- ai-gateway
- Organization
OSV dependency advisories
- llm-axe
- No lockfile (source not queried)
- ai-gateway
- Published findings
Full report
- llm-axe
- Trust report
- ai-gateway
- Trust report
Shared compatibility
- Python · llm-axe: Python runtime · ai-gateway: Python runtime
Choose llm-axe if…
- llm-axe is primarily Python; ai-gateway is Go.
- License: llm-axe is MIT, ai-gateway is Apache-2.0.
- Tags unique to llm-axe: function-calling, llama3, local-llm, ollama.
- Also covers LLM Frameworks.
- When you need to develop LLM-powered applications quickly using local models, emphasizing simplicity and ease of integration.
When NOT to use llm-axe
- Avoid if your project strictly requires cloud-based LLM resources or seamless model switching across different providers.
- Not recommended for scenarios where extensive customization of the training pipeline is a requirement, as it focuses on implementation rather than deep training flexibility.
Choose ai-gateway if…
- ai-gateway is primarily Go; llm-axe is Python.
- License: ai-gateway is Apache-2.0, llm-axe is MIT.
- Tags unique to ai-gateway: ai-gateway, litellm, llm-cost, llm-proxy.
- Also covers Inference & Serving.
- 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 (emirsahin1/llm-axe) · observed Aug 13, 2026
- GitHub forks (emirsahin1/llm-axe) · observed Aug 13, 2026
- Last push (emirsahin1/llm-axe) · observed Jan 5, 2025
- License file (MIT) · observed Aug 13, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- GitHub stars (ferro-labs/ai-gateway) · observed Sep 12, 2026
- GitHub forks (ferro-labs/ai-gateway) · observed Sep 12, 2026
- Last push (ferro-labs/ai-gateway) · observed Sep 10, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Sep 12, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: llm-axe 275 · ai-gateway 256 (synced Aug 13, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between llm-axe and ai-gateway?
- llm-axe: Toolkit for quick implementation of LLM powered applications. 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 llm-axe over ai-gateway?
- Choose llm-axe over ai-gateway when llm-axe is primarily Python; ai-gateway is Go; License: llm-axe is MIT, ai-gateway is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to llm-axe: function-calling, llama3, local-llm, ollama; Also covers LLM Frameworks; When you need to develop LLM-powered applications quickly using local models, emphasizing simplicity and ease of integration.
- When should I choose ai-gateway over llm-axe?
- Choose ai-gateway over llm-axe when ai-gateway is primarily Go; llm-axe is Python; License: ai-gateway is Apache-2.0, llm-axe is MIT; Tags unique to ai-gateway: ai-gateway, litellm, llm-cost, llm-proxy; Also covers Inference & Serving; When you need to integrate more than 30 different LLM services including OpenAI and Anthropic.
- When should I avoid llm-axe?
- Avoid if your project strictly requires cloud-based LLM resources or seamless model switching across different providers. Not recommended for scenarios where extensive customization of the training pipeline is a requirement, as it focuses on implementation rather than deep training flexibility.
- 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 llm-axe or ai-gateway more popular on GitHub?
- llm-axe has more GitHub stars (275 vs 256). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are llm-axe and ai-gateway open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (llm-axe: MIT, ai-gateway: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to llm-axe or ai-gateway?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at llm-axe alternatives and ai-gateway alternatives (llm-axe 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, llm-axe or ai-gateway?
- llm-axe: 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 llm-axe and ai-gateway?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: llm-axe trust report; ai-gateway trust report.