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APIs · head to head

LiteLLM vs Spring Cloud Gateway

LiteLLM logo

LiteLLM

APIs

The AI Gateway for platform teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spring Cloud Gateway logo

Spring Cloud Gateway

APIs

API gateway built on Project Reactor for building microservices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: LiteLLM enterprise pricing based on annual request capacity and deployment architecture, sized via direct sales; Spring Cloud Gateway released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LiteLLM and Spring Cloud Gateway actually diverge.

Attributes where LiteLLM and Spring Cloud Gateway differ
AttributeLiteLLMSpring Cloud Gateway
PlatformsWebJava, Spring Boot
FoundedUnknown1998

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

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 LiteLLM

Nothing recorded that Spring Cloud Gateway does not also cover.

Only in Spring Cloud Gateway

  • Routing
  • Path Rewriting
  • Circuit Breaker
  • Spring Boot
  • Spring Security
  • Spring Cloud
  • Java support
  • Spring Boot support

What people use each for

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

LiteLLM

  • Accessing 140+ LLM providers through single APInot Spring Cloud Gateway
  • Implementing cost-based routing for advanced AI tasksnot Spring Cloud Gateway
  • Deploying new LLM models usually within a daynot Spring Cloud Gateway
  • Switching backend models with config changes onlynot Spring Cloud Gateway
  • Maintaining consistent access across 100+ endpointsnot Spring Cloud Gateway

Spring Cloud Gateway

  • API Developmentnot LiteLLM
  • API Gatewaynot LiteLLM
  • API Testingnot LiteLLM
  • API Documentationnot LiteLLM
  • Microservicesnot LiteLLM

Where each one falls short

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

LiteLLM

  • Enterprise pricing based on annual request capacity and deployment architecture, sized via direct sales
  • Not per-token based pricing for Enterprise tier

Spring Cloud Gateway

  • Released under the Apache 2.0 license, free and open source with no commercial tier

Pricing, plan by plan

LiteLLM

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • 100+ providers
    • One OpenAI API
    • Virtual keys
  • Enterprise$null/mo
    • All Open Source features
    • SSO + SCIM
    • OIDC/JWT authentication

Spring Cloud Gateway

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Core Spring Cloud Gateway
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose LiteLLM if

  • You want to start without paying.
LiteLLM review

Choose Spring Cloud Gateway if

  • You need routing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Java, Spring Boot.
  • You also want path rewriting.
Spring Cloud Gateway review

Questions people ask

Is LiteLLM or Spring Cloud Gateway better?
Neither clearly leads. LiteLLM starts at Free and Spring Cloud Gateway at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LiteLLM or Spring Cloud Gateway?
LiteLLM starts at Free and Spring Cloud Gateway at Free.
Does LiteLLM or Spring Cloud Gateway run on more platforms?
LiteLLM runs on Web. Spring Cloud Gateway runs on Java, Spring Boot.
Can I use LiteLLM for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is LiteLLM best used for?
LiteLLM is most often used for accessing 140+ llm providers through single api, implementing cost-based routing for advanced ai tasks, deploying new llm models usually within a day, switching backend models with config changes only. Of those, accessing 140+ llm providers through single api and implementing cost-based routing for advanced ai tasks are not what Spring Cloud Gateway is typically brought in for.
What can LiteLLM do that Spring Cloud Gateway cannot?
Spring Cloud Gateway covers Routing, Path Rewriting, Circuit Breaker, Spring Boot.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

LiteLLM: Is LiteLLM free to use?

Yes, LiteLLM's open-source version is free forever and requires no credit card. Self-host in minutes with support for 100+ LLM providers.

Source
Spring Cloud Gateway: Is Spring Cloud Gateway free?

Yes, Spring Cloud Gateway is free and open-source software. It is part of the Spring ecosystem and available through GitHub repositories with open-source dependencies like spring-cloud-starter-gateway-server-webflux and spring-cloud-starter-gateway-server-webmvc.

Source
LiteLLM: What does LiteLLM's Enterprise plan cost?

Enterprise pricing is custom and annual, sized based on your annual gateway request capacity, deployment architecture, and support needs. Not charged per token.

Source
Spring Cloud Gateway: What enterprise support is available for Spring Cloud Gateway?

Tanzu Spring provides optional enterprise support including Day 0 access to security patches for organizations requiring guaranteed support, but specific pricing is not published on the Spring Cloud Gateway project page.

Source
LiteLLM: Is there a free trial for Enterprise?

Yes, a 30-day Enterprise trial key is available via email with no credit card required.

Source
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