LiteLLM vs Portkey vs Kong for regulated enterprises
For regulated enterprises that must self host their AI gateway and produce call level records of every model interaction, LiteLLM is the strongest fit of the three. Portkey is the fastest route to a managed gateway but its data plane runs outside your VPC on standard plans, and Kong makes the most sense for teams already standardized on Kong's API platform.
All three are credible products. The right choice depends less on feature checklists and more on the constraints regulated teams cannot negotiate away: where data lives, who can produce the audit record, and what procurement will approve.
What each one is
LiteLLM
LiteLLM is an open source gateway backed by BerriAI. It is self hosted in your own VPC, fronts 100+ model providers through one consistent API, and provides call level logging, per team keys, and per team budgets. Enterprise support is available from BerriAI and through its channel partners. Because the entire gateway runs inside your environment, prompts and logs never leave your network boundary.
Portkey
Portkey is a managed cloud gateway. It is fast to adopt and removes the operational work of running gateway infrastructure yourself. On standard plans the data plane runs outside your VPC, in Portkey's cloud. For many companies that tradeoff is acceptable. For a regulated team, it is the first question compliance will ask, and the answer shapes everything downstream.
Kong
Kong is an API gateway platform whose AI gateway extends infrastructure many enterprises already operate. For teams standardized on Kong, adding its AI capabilities keeps one vendor, one operational model, and one set of skills. For teams not already on Kong, adopting the full platform in order to get the AI gateway is a larger commitment than the AI use case alone may justify.
The decision axis for regulated teams
- Data residency. Where do prompts, completions, and logs physically live, and can you prove it to an examiner or auditor.
- Self hosting. Can the entire data plane run inside your VPC, or does traffic transit infrastructure you do not control.
- Audit trail depth. Can you produce call level records with team attribution, cost, and key identity for every request.
- Procurement path. Open source plus an enterprise support contract, a SaaS subscription, or an expansion with an existing platform vendor each move through procurement differently.
| LiteLLM | Portkey | Kong | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Self hosted, open source | Managed cloud service | Part of the Kong API platform |
| Data plane | Your VPC | Portkey cloud on standard plans | Your Kong deployment |
| Best fit | Regulated teams that must self host and produce call level records | Teams prioritizing speed of adoption over residency control | Teams already standardized on Kong |
The bottom line
If your organization can accept a managed data plane, Portkey gets you moving quickly. If you already run Kong, its AI gateway is the path of least resistance. For regulated enterprises that must self host and produce call level records, LiteLLM is the strongest fit, and MobileRider is a LiteLLM channel partner deploying it on Akamai Cloud for regulated teams.
Not sure which constraints apply to you
The three minute governance scorecard grades your current LLM setup on residency, audit trail, key custody, and failover.
Take the three minute scorecardQualified regulated teams can also request the funded $5,000 gateway assessment. Through our Akamai partnership, qualified teams pay nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Which AI gateway runs entirely inside our own VPC?
LiteLLM is built to run entirely in your own environment, including its logs. Kong can also run in your infrastructure as part of its broader API platform. Portkey is a managed cloud gateway, and on standard plans its data plane runs outside your VPC.
Is LiteLLM free to use?
The core gateway is open source and free to run. BerriAI, the company behind LiteLLM, offers enterprise features and support, and channel partners such as MobileRider provide deployment and managed support for enterprises.
Does choosing an open source gateway mean we are on our own for support?
No. LiteLLM is backed by BerriAI, and enterprise support is available directly from BerriAI and through its channel partners, which gives procurement a commercial counterparty and a support contract.
How should a regulated team decide between LiteLLM, Portkey, and Kong?
Score each option on data residency, self hosting, audit trail depth, and procurement path, then pilot the leading option against your own logging and key management requirements before committing.