Every tool in this space solves a different primary problem. Helicone is an observability proxy. LangSmith is a LangChain debugger. Portkey is a gateway. TokenCurb is built specifically for cost visibility — helping you understand where your budget goes and how to spend less.
← TokenCurb
TokenCurb vs Helicone vs LangSmith
An honest comparison for teams tracking LLM costs in production.
| Tool | Primary focus | Cost tracking | Agent loops | Alerts | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TokenCurb Early access | Cost visibility & budget control | Per-feature, per-user, per-agent | Automatic detection | Spike alerts before invoice | Teams optimizing LLM spend |
| Helicone Available | LLM observability proxy | Per-request logging | Manual analysis | Usage alerts | Dev teams wanting a logging proxy |
| LangSmith Available | LangChain debugging & tracing | Per-trace token counts | Trace visualization | Limited | LangChain-heavy workflows |
| Portkey Available | LLM gateway & routing | Per-request via gateway | Via traces | Budget limits | Multi-model gateway needs |
When to choose TokenCurb
- Your primary pain is surprise LLM bills, not debugging traces
- You need per-feature cost breakdown for product decisions
- Agent loops are eating your budget silently
- You want alerts before costs hit the invoice
When to choose alternatives
- Helicone — drop-in proxy with request logging
- LangSmith — LangChain trace debugging
- Portkey — multi-provider API gateway
TokenCurb is in early access. Join the waitlist for per-feature cost visibility.
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