Helicone vs Honeycomb: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Helicone and Honeycomb comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Helicone
Build reliable AI apps with Helicone: AI Gateway & LLM Observability for debugging, routing, and analysis.
Best for you if:
- • Routes, debugs, and analyzes AI applications.
- • Offers LLM observability and an AI Gateway.
Honeycomb
Observability for distributed systems
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 8.0/10)
- • Honeycomb is an observability platform for debugging production systems fast
- • It provides high-cardinality event analysis for understanding complex distributed systems
| At a Glance |  Helicone | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | API Tools | API Tools |
Rating | 80/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | Helicone | Honeycomb |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 80 | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | API ToolsMonitoring | API ToolsDebugging |
How Helicone and Honeycomb Compare
Helicone
Build reliable AI apps with Helicone: AI Gateway & LLM Observability for debugging, routing, and analysis.
Free tier available · 80/100 score
Honeycomb
Observability for distributed systems
Free tier available · 86/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Helicone
Want the highest-rated option?
Helicone: 80/100. Honeycomb: 86/100.
Go with: Honeycomb
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Honeycomb
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are api tools tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Honeycomb scores higher: 86/100 vs 80/100.
Key Takeaways
Honeycomb
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 80
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Helicone
The Bottom Line
Honeycomb (86/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Helicone or Honeycomb better?
Honeycomb scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Helicone and Honeycomb used for?
Helicone: Build reliable AI apps with Helicone: AI Gateway & LLM Observability for debugging, routing, and analysis.. Honeycomb: Observability for distributed systems.
What does Helicone cost vs Honeycomb?
Helicone is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Honeycomb is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.