Helicone is an open-source LLM observability platform that takes a uniquely simple approach to monitoring AI applications. Instead of requiring SDK integration or code changes, developers simply change their API base URL to route LLM requests through Helicone's proxy, instantly enabling comprehensive observability.
The proxy approach means Helicone works with major LLM providers and client libraries with minimal code changes beyond the URL swap. Current public pages list integrations such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure, LiteLLM, Anyscale, Together AI, and OpenRouter, while Helicone now presents itself as part of Mintlify rather than relying on an old interaction-count claim.
Core features include request and response logging, cost tracking across models and users, latency monitoring, response caching for cost reduction, rate limiting for usage control, and user-level analytics. The dashboard provides real-time visibility into all LLM usage across an organization.
Additional capabilities include prompt experimentation for A/B testing different prompts, evaluation tools for measuring output quality, and a gateway that adds routing, fallback, and retry logic to LLM requests.
Helicone is open-source and can be self-hosted. The managed cloud currently lists Hobby Free with 10,000 requests, Pro at $79/month, Team at $799/month, and Enterprise custom packages. The simplicity of the proxy integration makes it particularly attractive for teams wanting observability without heavy instrumentation.
