# Langfuse vs Helicone: which LLM observability platform wins in 2026?

**Source:** https://promtable.com/compare/langfuse-vs-helicone

> Langfuse wins on evals + dataset workflows + open-source self-host. Helicone wins on simplest setup (one proxy URL change) and dashboard polish. Pick Langfuse for full eval pipelines, Helicone for fast monitoring + cost visibility.

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Langfuse wins on evals + dataset workflows + open-source self-host. Helicone wins on simplest setup (one proxy URL change) and dashboard polish. Pick Langfuse for full eval pipelines, Helicone for fast monitoring + cost visibility.

## At a glance

| Dimension | Langfuse | Helicone |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | SDK wrap calls or OpenTelemetry | **Change base URL to proxy (one line)** ✓ |
| Tracing | **Detailed multi-step + sessions** ✓ | Per-request logs + sessions |
| Evals | **First-class — datasets, scorers, runs** ✓ | Basic eval scoring |
| Datasets / golden sets | **Built-in** ✓ | Limited |
| Prompt management | Versioned prompts + experiments | Versioned prompts |
| Cost attribution | Per-user / session / project | Per-user / API key |
| Open source / self-host | **Yes (MIT)** ✓ | Partial (self-host beta) |
| Pricing | Free tier + usage-based + enterprise | Free tier + usage-based |
| Best for | Full eval / dataset / observability pipeline | Quick monitoring + cost visibility |

## Verdict

Langfuse is the right pick for teams running full evaluation pipelines — datasets, scorers, regression tests, A/B prompt experiments — with open-source self-host as a hard requirement. Helicone is the right pick for teams who want zero-touch monitoring — one URL change adds cost + latency + error dashboards. Many teams use both — Helicone for prod monitoring + cost, Langfuse for dev / eval / prompt iteration.

## When to pick which

- **Langfuse** — Eval pipelines, dataset workflows, prompt experiments, open-source self-host.
- **Helicone** — Fastest setup (proxy URL change), cost visibility, monitoring polish.

## FAQ

### Easiest LLM observability setup?

Helicone — change your OpenAI base URL to the Helicone proxy, done.

### Best for evals?

Langfuse — first-class dataset + scorer + experiment workflows.

### Self-host?

Langfuse (MIT, full self-host) leads; Helicone has a partial self-host beta.

## Related

- [/compare/braintrust-vs-langfuse](https://promtable.com/compare/braintrust-vs-langfuse)
- [/alternatives/langfuse](https://promtable.com/alternatives/langfuse)
- [/glossary/llm-observability](https://promtable.com/glossary/llm-observability)
- [/glossary/agent-tracing](https://promtable.com/glossary/agent-tracing)

*Last updated: 2026-06-01*
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Original page: https://promtable.com/compare/langfuse-vs-helicone
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