Free alternatives to Portkey
4 free programs that can replace Portkey, each pairing checked by Radar's AI reviewer or by Radar.
Portkey is an online service that sits between an app and AI model providers. It gives developers a single point for calling many models, along with logs, caching, fallbacks and usage controls. Teams building products with language models use it, and the managed service is paid.
Before moving to FreeLLMAPI, Magpie or another option, check:
- Features you use: list the ones that matter, such as request logs, retries, budgets, rate limits or prompt management.
- Compatibility: see whether your current code and libraries can point to the new endpoint with few changes.
- Running it yourself: hosting, updates, log storage and uptime become your job.
- Team access: keys, permissions and dashboards may have to be rebuilt.
- History: export the logs and reports you need.
The list below shows the alternatives found.
| Program | Ease | You need | Risk signals | Stars | Downloads this week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC SwitchA desktop app that switches which AI provider your coding tools use, without editing config files by hand. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 3 | 150,644+1,675 in 5 days | 362,260 |
| FreeLLMAPIPuts the free tiers of many AI providers behind one local address, so your apps and coding tools can share them. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 4 | 45,200+3,018 in 5 days | 34,083 |
| MagpieChoose which AI model each coding agent uses, from the menu bar, through one local gateway for all your keys. | Ease Binstaller plus one simple step · Windows | Nothing extra | Attention · 6 | 26,956+4,352 in 5 days | 55,838 |
| CavemanMakes AI coding assistants reply in a short "caveman" style and shrinks the logs and files they read, to spend fewer tokens. | Ease Cinstall 1 or 2 tools · Windows | Node.js | Attention · 4 | 116,527+1,216 in 5 days | 84,456 |
Frequently asked questions
Which free alternative to Portkey is the easiest to install?
CC Switch has the highest ease rating among the 4 options: B (installer plus one simple step · Windows).
Is there a free alternative to Portkey for Windows, Mac and Linux?
Windows: CC Switch, FreeLLMAPI, Magpie, Caveman. macOS: CC Switch, FreeLLMAPI, Magpie, Caveman. Linux: CC Switch, FreeLLMAPI, Magpie, Caveman.
Are the alternatives to Portkey really free?
0 of the 4 are completely free; 4 depend on a paid service or key for some features.
How can I tell whether an alternative is trustworthy?
Each card shows the risk signals found, with the evidence. 0 of the 4 have no signal rated attention or high. See also the guide How to find a GitHub project's official repository and avoid fake copies.