What is App Stack Builder?

App Stack Builder is a free AI-powered tool that helps founders and developers choose the right tech stack for their projects based on budget, app type, team size, and skill level.

What is the best tech stack for SaaS in 2026?

The best tech stack for SaaS in 2026 typically includes Next.js 16 for frontend, Supabase for database and auth, Vercel for hosting, Stripe for payments, and PostHog for analytics. App Stack Builder can generate a personalized recommendation based on your specific budget and requirements.

Is App Stack Builder free to use?

Yes, App Stack Builder is completely free to use. You can generate unlimited tech stack recommendations without any cost.

What types of apps can I build with the recommended stacks?

App Stack Builder supports various app types including SaaS applications, web apps, mobile apps, e-commerce stores, internal tools, and AI/ML products.

How much does a SaaS tech stack cost per month?

A modern SaaS tech stack can cost anywhere from $0-50/month for bootstrapped startups using free tiers, $100-300/month for growth-stage startups, to $500+/month for enterprise-ready infrastructure. App Stack Builder helps you find the best tools within your specific budget.

What is the best tech stack for solo founders?

For solo founders, we recommend Next.js + Vercel (free), Supabase (free tier), Supabase Auth (free), Stripe (pay as you go), and Plausible or PostHog for analytics. This stack can run your entire SaaS for under $50/month.

Can I export my tech stack recommendations?

Yes, you can export your tech stack recommendations as a PDF document or copy them to your clipboard. You can also share a link to your stack with others.

AI Gateways & LLM Proxies

Best AI Gateways & LLM Proxies in 2026

Once a product calls more than one model, something has to handle keys, fallbacks, caching and spend limits. An AI gateway sits between your app and the model providers and does that in one place. Here are the leading options in 2026, from an open-source proxy you host yourself to a free gateway on Cloudflare’s network.

AI Gateways & LLM Proxies Tools Compared

Tool	Pricing	Free tier
LiteLLM	Free · paid plans by quote
Helicone	Free · paid from $79/mo
Portkey	Free · paid from $49/mo
Cloudflare AI Gateway	Free · paid from $5/mo

The Best AI Gateways & LLM Proxies Tools, Ranked

1. LiteLLM

Free tier· Free · paid plans by quote

Open-source LLM proxy and Python SDK: one OpenAI-style API for 100+ providers, with virtual keys, budgets and fallbacks you host yourself.

Free and open source (MIT)
No third party in your request path
Per-team keys and budgets

LiteLLM & alternatives

2. Helicone

Free tier· Free · paid from $79/mo

Open-source AI gateway and LLM observability: route requests across providers with caching and fallbacks, and log every call.

Open source and self-hostable
Cost and latency logging on every request
Generous free tier

Helicone & alternatives

3. Portkey

Free tier· Free · paid from $49/mo

AI gateway with built-in observability: route to any model with fallbacks, caching and guardrails, then trace every request.

Gateway and observability in one product
Open-source gateway you can self-host
Guardrails and semantic caching

Portkey & alternatives

4. Cloudflare AI Gateway

Free tier· Free · paid from $5/mo

Free AI gateway on Cloudflare's network: analytics, caching, rate limiting and fallbacks in front of any model provider.

Core features are free
Runs on Cloudflare's global edge
Nothing to host

Cloudflare AI Gateway & alternatives

How to choose a ai gateways & llm proxies tool

Decide first whether a third party may sit in your request path. If not, self-host LiteLLM, Portkey’s open-source gateway or Helicone.
Choose LiteLLM for per-team virtual keys, budgets and rate limits at no licence cost. You run the proxy and its Postgres database.
Choose Portkey or Helicone when you want routing and request logs in one product. Both have free tiers and charge by logs or requests above them.
Choose Cloudflare AI Gateway for free caching, analytics and rate limiting with nothing to host, especially if you are already on Cloudflare.
Compare the gateway fee, not the model price. Model tokens cost the same through every option here.

In-depth guideOpenRouter vs LiteLLM (2026): Hosted AI Gateway vs Open-Source LLM ProxyOpenRouter is a hosted service: one key, 500+ models, a 5.5% fee on credits. LiteLLM is MIT-licensed software you run yourself, with virtual keys and budgets per team. How each works, what the gateway costs at three spend levels, and why this site runs on OpenRouter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best ai gateways & llm proxies tools for startups in 2026?⌄

The best ai gateways & llm proxies tools for startups in 2026 include LiteLLM, Helicone, Portkey, Cloudflare AI Gateway. Compare them by pricing, free tiers, and features in the list above.

What is the best free ai gateways & llm proxies tool?⌄

Free ai gateways & llm proxies options include LiteLLM, Helicone, Portkey, Cloudflare AI Gateway — all offer a free tier suitable for bootstrapped startups and MVPs.

How do I choose a ai gateways & llm proxies tool?⌄

Start with your budget and team size, prefer tools with a free tier to validate, and make sure your pick integrates with the rest of your stack. App Stack Builder can recommend a complete, budget-aware stack in about 60 seconds.

Need the whole stack, not just ai gateways & llm proxies?

Get a free, AI-powered tech stack — matched to your budget, app type, and team size in 60 seconds.

Build my stack free