Portkey vs Honeycomb: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Portkey 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:
Portkey
Production stack for Gen AI builders: AI Gateway, Observability, Guardrails, Governance, and Prompt Management.
Best for you if:
- • Unified AI Gateway for 1600+ LLMs with smart routing and caching.
- • Comprehensive observability, guardrails, and governance for Gen AI applications.
Honeycomb
Observability for distributed systems
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 7.0/10)
- • Honeycomb is an observability platform for debugging production systems fast
- • It provides high-cardinality event analysis for understanding complex distributed systems
| At a Glance |  Portkey | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | API Tools | API Tools |
Rating | 70/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | Portkey | Honeycomb |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 70 | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | API ToolsAI Model Deployment | API ToolsDebugging |
How Portkey and Honeycomb Compare
Portkey
Production stack for Gen AI builders: AI Gateway, Observability, Guardrails, Governance, and Prompt Management.
Free tier available · 70/100 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: Portkey
Want the highest-rated option?
Portkey: 70/100. 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 70/100.
Key Takeaways
Honeycomb
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 70
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Portkey
The Bottom Line
Honeycomb (86/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portkey or Honeycomb better?
Honeycomb scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Portkey and Honeycomb used for?
Portkey: Production stack for Gen AI builders: AI Gateway, Observability, Guardrails, Governance, and Prompt Management.. Honeycomb: Observability for distributed systems.
What does Portkey cost vs Honeycomb?
Portkey is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Honeycomb is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.