Brandwave

Helicone vs OpenRouter:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, OpenRouter had more branded searches than Helicone among AI gateway platforms worldwide. OpenRouter had about 1.2 million branded searches, while Helicone had 4,400. OpenRouter made up 87.3% of all AI gateway platform searches we track, and Helicone accounted for 0.31%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI gateway platforms, OpenRouter appeared in all five answers and Helicone in one. OpenRouter was mentioned before Helicone in every answer.

Among AI gateway platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

OpenRouter, about 277 searches for every 1 for Helicone

OpenRouter 1.2M searchesHelicone 4.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

OpenRouter, mentioned in every answer we collected

OpenRouter in 5 of 5Helicone in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

OpenRouter, named ahead of Helicone in every answer

OpenRouter first in 5Helicone never first

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Top AI gateway platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, OpenRouter appeared in all five answers. Helicone was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. OpenRouter was listed before Helicone in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. LiteLLM1st
  2. Portkey2nd
  3. Kong3rd
  4. OpenRouter4th
  5. TrueFoundry5th
  6. Helicone6th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • OpenRouter5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • LiteLLM5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Portkey5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kong4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • TrueFoundry2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Helicone1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI gateway platforms

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is Helicone or OpenRouter more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Helicone and OpenRouter by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six AI gateway platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Helicone and OpenRouter among AI gateway platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for OpenRouter, Helicone. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthOpenRouterLiteLLMPortkeyTrueFoundryKongHelicone
Oct 202584.1%9.3%2.8%0.67%2.2%1%
Nov 202580.1%13.2%3.2%0.63%1.7%1.2%
Dec 202582.9%11.2%2.7%0.53%1.4%1.2%
Jan 202683.1%11.2%2.7%0.54%1.2%1.2%
Feb 202686.5%9.5%1.9%0.46%0.77%0.85%
Mar 202674.2%22.3%1.6%0.4%0.67%0.73%
Apr 202685%11.5%1.9%0.38%0.51%0.69%
May 202684.1%11.4%2.8%0.56%0.5%0.68%
Jun 202686.8%9.6%1.9%0.7%0.5%0.47%
Jul 202687.2%9.6%1.6%0.71%0.5%0.39%
Aug 202689.4%8%1.3%0.59%0.34%0.32%
Sep 202687.3%9.7%1.6%0.71%0.41%0.31%

How has the Helicone and OpenRouter comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • OpenRouter was ahead of Helicone in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Helicone’s share of searches among AI gateway platforms worldwide moved from 1% to 0.31%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 4.4K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OpenRouter’s share of searches among AI gateway platforms worldwide moved from 84.1% to 87.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 450K to 1.2M.

How did search popularity change for AI gateway platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, OpenRouter lost share of searches among AI gateway platforms worldwide, from 89.4% to 87.3%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Helicone worldwide fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 5.4K to 4.4K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Helicone’s and OpenRouter’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Helicone

1 branded search term

  • helicone

OpenRouter

1 branded search term

  • openrouter

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among AI gateway platforms

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