Real data and hard-won lessons on AI agent cost control, model routing, and building with MCP.
Helicone and Langfuse take opposite bets on LLM observability: proxy logging vs OTel span tracing. Here is an honest 2026 comparison of features, pricing, the Helicone maintenance-mode question, and where cost attribution actually fits.
A runaway agent does not warn you, it just keeps calling the model. Here is how to cap AI agent spend in three layers: max_tokens and turn limits, session cost checks, and a hard dollar ceiling enforced at the proxy where the agent cannot bypass it.
LiteLLM and OpenRouter both put one API in front of every model, in opposite ways: a self-hosted proxy you govern vs a managed marketplace you route through. An honest comparison of hosting, cost, model coverage, and latency for 2026.
Starting today, Claude Pro and Max subscriptions no longer cover third-party tools. Here's the real math, three paths forward, and why smart routing is the right answer.
As of April 4, 2026, Max and Pro subscribers using Cline, aider, Roo Code, or any non-Anthropic tool now pay per-token API rates on top of their subscription. Here's the math, the credit deadline, and what to do about it.
LLM proxy and LLM gateway sound the same. They're not. Here's the actual difference, a feature comparison, and how to decide which one fits your stack.
LiteLLM PyPI versions 1.82.7 and 1.82.8 were compromised in a supply chain attack affecting 95M+ downloads. If you're rethinking your LLM proxy stack, here are the best alternatives.
The break-even math on Claude Max vs API-only. At what daily usage does $200/mo flat beat pay-per-token? We run the numbers so you can stop guessing.
Agent runaway costs are happening right now to teams shipping AI agents without budget guardrails. Here is why it happens, how to add limits in code, and how to enforce them at the infrastructure layer with RelayPlane.
A comparison of the top npm LLM proxy packages for Node.js developers in 2026: per-request cost tracking, no Docker, native Node.js setup, and honest tradeoffs between RelayPlane, Portkey, Helicone, and llm-proxy.
Autonomous agents make API calls on your behalf with no natural pause point. An AI agent proxy sits between your agents and your LLM provider to classify, track, and cap spend before the bill arrives.
A breakdown of how OpenClaw billing works, which agent operations burn the most tokens, and how to get visibility before costs surprise you.
Starting with v1.9, RelayPlane enables telemetry and mesh by default. Here is what changed, why, and how to opt out.
Route OpenClaw agent calls through a local proxy to cut API costs without changing any application code. Complexity routing, budget controls, and multi-provider setup in 5 minutes.
Set ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL once, get smart model routing, per-request cost tracking, and budget enforcement for free. Here is how a local proxy changes your Claude setup.
Most teams build a proxy once, then realize they've built a second product. Here's what the DIY path actually looks like, and the 3-line alternative.
Per-request LLM cost tracking without building an accounting system. Here's what works, what breaks, and how to do it without hardcoded pricing constants.
Three production concerns for every Claude deployment: rate limits, cost overruns, and provider fallbacks. Here's the clean solution for each.
OpenRouter, Cloudflare AI Gateway, LiteLLM, and RelayPlane compared. Different tools for different stacks, here is what each one actually delivers in 2026.
Claude Code makes a lot of API calls. Here is where the costs come from, how to track them per session, and how to cut your bill 50-70% with model routing and budget limits.
Four LLM gateways compared: RelayPlane, LiteLLM, Helicone, and Bifrost. Different tools, different tradeoffs, different stacks. Here is an honest breakdown.
The x402 protocol is turning AI agents into economic actors. Here are 6 concrete ways autonomous agents are already earning USDC, ranked by how fast you can actually ship them.
Give your AI agents budget guardrails and multi-provider routing with one MCP server. No more surprise API bills.
Surprised by your first AI API bill? You're not alone. Here's how to estimate LLM API costs upfront, avoid the shock, and instrument your agent properly before you scale.
Running an OpenClaw-based agent and watching the API bill creep up? Here's where the money goes and how to cut it without changing a line of application code.
Most AI projects start with one provider and end up juggling four. Here's how to build a control plane that handles routing, fallback, and budget enforcement without rewriting everything.
I built an AI proxy after a $340 Anthropic bill I never saw coming. Here's what I learned about routing, storage, and building infrastructure tooling in public.
Route Claude Code through a local proxy and stop burning Opus tokens on file reads and git status. Three commands, one environment variable.
Running AI agents without review pipelines is how you end up with live credentials committed to git. Here is the mandatory pipeline setup that lets agents ship safely without a human in the loop.
An open-source LLM proxy that tracks costs, routes by complexity, and stops runaway agent spending. npm install, no Docker, no Python.