Softwr

API Management · head to head

3scale vs LiteLLM

3scale logo

3scale

API Management

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
L

LiteLLM

API Management

The AI Gateway for platform teams

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 3scale red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date; LiteLLM sSO, RBAC, JWT authentication, and audit logs are all reserved for the Enterprise tier, which is not self-serve and requires a custom quote on top of the free open source core, as of August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and LiteLLM actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and LiteLLM differ
Attribute3scaleLiteLLM
Starting price$300/monthlyOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridWeb
Founded1993Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (API Management).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3scale

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud support

Only in LiteLLM

Nothing recorded that 3scale does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3scale

  • API gateway and lifecycle managementnot LiteLLM
  • Rate limiting and traffic control across API consumersnot LiteLLM
  • Developer portal and access key managementnot LiteLLM
  • Monetising APIs with usage-based plansnot LiteLLM
  • Hybrid deployment across on-premises and cloudnot LiteLLM

LiteLLM

No use cases recorded yet. See the LiteLLM review.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3scale

  • Red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date
  • Sold as part of Red Hat middleware rather than standalone, and 3scale.net redirects into redhat.com
  • Pricing is not published and a subscription is required for some services

LiteLLM

  • SSO, RBAC, JWT authentication, and audit logs are all reserved for the Enterprise tier, which is not self-serve and requires a custom quote on top of the free open source core, as of August 2026.

Pricing, plan by plan

3scale

$300/monthly
  • Starter$300/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Developer portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$750/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • API monetization
    • Enhanced support
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium SLA

LiteLLM

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the LiteLLM review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want developer portal.
3scale review

Choose LiteLLM if

Nothing in the data separates LiteLLM from 3scale on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

LiteLLM review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or LiteLLM better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and LiteLLM at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or LiteLLM?
3scale starts at $300/monthly and LiteLLM at On request.
Does 3scale or LiteLLM run on more platforms?
3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. LiteLLM runs on Web.
What is 3scale best used for?
3scale is most often used for api gateway and lifecycle management, rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers, developer portal and access key management, monetising apis with usage-based plans. Of those, api gateway and lifecycle management and rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers are not what LiteLLM is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that LiteLLM cannot?
3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift.
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