LlamaIndex vs Portkey: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for LlamaIndex and Portkey side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
LlamaIndex
Data framework for LLM applications
Best for you if:
- • You want great for RAG
Portkey
Production stack for Gen AI builders: AI Gateway, Observability, Guardrails, Governance, and Prompt Management.
Best for you if:
- • You want LLM gateway
| At a Glance | ||
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan, paid from $49/mo, billed monthly Production plan |
Category | Developer Tools AI Assistants | AI Assistants API Tools |
Rating | n/a | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 18 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose LlamaIndex or Portkey?
Choose LlamaIndex if
- You want great for RAG
- You want easy data integration
- You work in developer tools, not AI assistants
Choose Portkey if
- You want LLM gateway
- You want good observability
- You work in AI assistants, not developer tools
In-Depth Analysis
LlamaIndex
Data framework for LLM applications
LlamaIndex offers a very generous open-source tier, providing a full LLM framework and RAG capabilities for free.
Strengths
- Pro: Great for RAG
- Pro: Easy data integration
- Pro: Good documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Can be slow
Key features
Portkey
Production stack for Gen AI builders: AI Gateway, Observability, Guardrails, Governance, and Prompt Management.
Portkey's pricing is fair, offering a generous free Developer tier with 10k requests/month.
Strengths
- Pro: LLM gateway
- Pro: Good observability
- Pro: Multiple providers
- Pro: Fair pricing
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Newer platform
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Latency overhead
- Con: Feature gaps
- Con: Smaller community
Key features
Plans and prices: LlamaIndex vs Portkey
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| LlamaIndex |
| llamaindex.ai/pricing read Oct 12, 2026 |
| Portkey |
| portkey.ai/pricing read Oct 4, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on LlamaIndex pricing and Portkey pricing.
Key Takeaways
LlamaIndex
- Choose if you want data framework for LLM applications
Portkey
- Choose if you want production stack for Gen AI builders: AI Gateway, Observability, Guardrails, Governance, and Prompt Management
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only Portkey has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 18 reviews); LlamaIndex has none we can show.
- Portkey starts at $49/mo, billed monthly; LlamaIndex has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do LlamaIndex and Portkey compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only Portkey has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 18 reviews); LlamaIndex has none we can show. Portkey starts at $49/mo, billed monthly; LlamaIndex has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are LlamaIndex and Portkey used for?
LlamaIndex: Data framework for LLM applications. Portkey: Production stack for Gen AI builders: AI Gateway, Observability, Guardrails, Governance, and Prompt Management.
What does LlamaIndex cost vs Portkey?
LlamaIndex has no public paid-plan price on file. Portkey's cheapest paid plan is Production at $49/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 12, 2026.
What's the main difference between LlamaIndex and Portkey?
LlamaIndex's main strength: great for RAG. Portkey's main strength: LLM gateway.