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APIs · head to head

LiteLLM vs Token.io

LiteLLM logo

LiteLLM

APIs

The AI Gateway for platform teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Token.io logo

Token.io

APIs

Account to account pay by bank infrastructure across the UK and Europe

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only LiteLLM has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: LiteLLM enterprise pricing based on annual request capacity and deployment architecture, sized via direct sales; Token.io account to account payments carry no chargeback scheme, so merchants gain cost savings but consumers lose the dispute protection cards provide, which limits adoption in general retail.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LiteLLM and Token.io actually diverge.

Attributes where LiteLLM and Token.io differ
AttributeLiteLLMToken.io
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, API

Identical on both: 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 Token.io does not also cover.

Only in Token.io

  • Payment initiation
  • Variable recurring payments
  • Bank network coverage
  • giroAPI membership
  • Payouts and refunds
  • Data and account information
  • Hosted payment pages
  • Reconciliation reporting

What people use each for

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

LiteLLM

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

Token.io

  • A utility or telecom collecting high value bills where card interchange makes acceptance expensivenot LiteLLM
  • An investment or trading platform funding customer accounts without card chargeback exposurenot LiteLLM
  • A payment service provider adding pay by bank to its merchant proposition without building bank connectivitynot LiteLLM
  • A German merchant using giroAPI scheme access for recurring and future dated bank paymentsnot 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

Token.io

  • Account to account payments carry no chargeback scheme, so merchants gain cost savings but consumers lose the dispute protection cards provide, which limits adoption in general retail.
  • Conversion depends on each bank's own authentication journey, and slow or broken bank redirects cost sales in ways the merchant cannot fix or even always diagnose.
  • Variable recurring payments beyond sweeping are still being rolled out unevenly across banks and markets, so a subscription use case may be supported at one bank and not another.
  • Token.io initiates payments rather than acting as acquirer of record, so merchants still need settlement, safeguarding and reconciliation arrangements elsewhere.
  • Coverage and feature parity vary by country, so a pan European rollout means different capabilities and different bank behaviour in each market rather than one uniform product.

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

Token.io

On request
  • Token.io platform$undefined/year
    • Quoted per customer, typically per initiated payment
    • Volume tiers and monthly minimums are common
    • No interchange, so unit cost is usually well below card acceptance

Which should you pick?

Choose LiteLLM if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose Token.io if

  • You need payment initiation.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want variable recurring payments.

Questions people ask

Is LiteLLM or Token.io better?
Neither clearly leads. LiteLLM starts at Free and Token.io at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LiteLLM or Token.io?
LiteLLM has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for LiteLLM and On request for Token.io.
Does LiteLLM or Token.io run on more platforms?
LiteLLM runs on Web. Token.io runs on Web, API.
Can I use LiteLLM for free?
Yes. LiteLLM has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Token.io starts at On request.
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 Token.io is typically brought in for.
What can LiteLLM do that Token.io cannot?
Token.io covers Payment initiation, Variable recurring payments, Bank network coverage, giroAPI membership.

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
Token.io: Does pay by bank remove card fees?

It removes interchange and scheme fees, so unit cost is normally far below card acceptance, particularly on high value payments.

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
Token.io: What about chargebacks?

There are none. That is the cost saving and the consumer protection gap, which is why it suits bills, top ups and account funding more than retail.

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
Token.io: Is Token.io regulated?

Yes, it is an authorised third party provider under UK and European open banking rules, but it initiates payments rather than holding merchant funds as an acquirer.

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