Helicone is a zero-code proxy that logs every LLM call with a base-URL swap. Proxy capture only sees inputs and outputs — no tool chains, no re-execution, no compliance artifacts. As of March 2026 it's also in confirmed maintenance mode following its acquisition by Mintlify: security patches and new-model support only, no new feature development.
| Capability | Helicone | Runback | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero-code setup — base URL swap | ✓ | ✓ | Runback also offers proxy mode |
| Cost and token tracking | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Rate limiting and caching | ✓ | ✗ | Helicone speciality — not Runback's scope |
| Tool call capture (multi-step agents) | ✗ | ✓ | Proxy only sees the outer LLM call |
| Re-execute any step from captured inputs | ✗ | ✓ | A proxy log has no captured tool state to replay against — Runback bisects a divergence in log₂ tries |
| Policy simulation and enforcement | ✗ | ✓ | |
| Signed, tamper-evident audit export | ✗ | ✓ | The public documentation describes request logging and export, and no cryptographic sealing over the logs — so we see no documented way to verify one independently of Helicone |
| Self-host, data in your perimeter | partial | ✓ | Helicone self-host is limited |
| Active feature development | ✗ | ✓ | Confirmed maintenance mode since the Mintlify acquisition, Mar 2026 — security patches and model support only |
Helicone still works fine for logging and caching today — the concern isn't the existing feature set, it's what happens to the roadmap from here. If you're picking a platform to grow into over the next few years, that's worth weighing alongside the feature comparison above.
Compiled from Helicone's public documentation at https://docs.helicone.ai/, read on 15 September 2026. Products change; if a row is out of date or wrong, tell us at legal@runback.dev and we will correct it. All product names and trade marks are the property of their respective owners. Runback is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of them.
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