Coding router comparison
Weave Router vs LiteLLM
LiteLLM standardizes access to 100+ LLM providers through one API. Weave Router selects models for individual coding prompts inside Codex, Claude Code and Cursor. Compare application gateway needs with coding-agent token spend. The products serve different roles and can be used together.
The short version
Model selection and gateway operations serve different needs.
Weave Router
Per-prompt coding model selection
- Select coding models for quality per token
- Work inside Codex, Claude Code and Cursor
- Inspect the public Apache-2.0 routing source
What is Weave Router?
Weave Router selects models for quality per token in Codex, Claude Code and Cursor. Easier prompts use efficient models; harder work gets frontier models. Its stated benefit is roughly twice the token runway. There is nothing to host, setup takes about five minutes, and it is free to start with Apache-2.0 source. Weave’s engineering intelligence platform serves 500+ organizations.
LiteLLM
Self-hosted API gateway operations
- Access 100+ providers through one compatible API
- Configure load balancing, fallbacks and spend tracking
- Manage virtual keys, guardrails and gateway operations
What is LiteLLM?
LiteLLM, by BerriAI, is an open-source Python SDK and proxy for 100+ providers through one OpenAI-compatible API. It includes virtual keys, spend tracking, guardrails, load balancing and an admin dashboard. Open source is free; enterprise tiers start around $250/month, plus hosting. You operate the gateway.
Side by side
How Weave Router and LiteLLM compare
| What matters | Weave Router | LiteLLM |
|---|---|---|
| Core approach | Learned routing: every prompt goes to the best quality-per-token model | Unified API gateway with config-based routing and load balancing |
| Routing signal | Prompt difficulty vs. model capability, per prompt | Rules, weights, and availability, not prompt content |
| Where it runs | Inside Codex, Claude Code, and Cursor, no infrastructure | Self-hosted proxy you deploy, typically with Postgres and Redis |
| Ops burden | None: nothing to deploy or maintain | You run, scale, and maintain the gateway yourself |
| Time to value | 5-minute setup; free to start | Deployment and configuration, plus ongoing operations |
| Pricing | Free to get started; open source (Apache-2.0) | Free open source; enterprise tiers from about $250/month, plus your hosting |
| Model coverage | Frontier and efficient models across major providers | 100+ providers behind one OpenAI-compatible API |
| Best for | Cutting coding-agent token spend for engineering teams | Platform teams standardizing LLM access across applications |
The key difference
A gateway standardizes access. A router decides.
Weave Router
Weave Router’s approach
Weave Router selects models by each coding prompt’s quality-per-token needs. It works inside Codex, Claude Code and Cursor without a proxy for your team to operate.
LiteLLM
LiteLLM’s approach
LiteLLM routes through configured weights, fallbacks, load balancing and budgets. Your team operates the proxy, database and uptime. These rules differ from selecting a model by prompt difficulty.
Use LiteLLM for application access and Weave Router for coding-tool model selection.
Why Weave Router
Why teams choose Weave Router over LiteLLM for coding spend
Per-prompt intelligence
Weave scores each prompt and selects a model for that work, rather than relying only on configured traffic rules.
Zero infrastructure
No proxy, Postgres or Redis to deploy. Weave Router works inside your coding tools.
Built for coding tools
Weave Router selects models inside Codex, Claude Code and Cursor.
Doubles your token runway
Weave’s stated benefit is roughly twice the token runway through quality-per-token routing.
Open source (Apache-2.0)
Inspect Weave Router’s Apache-2.0 source, as you would other open-source tooling.
Free to start, no sales call
Sign up at router.workweave.ai to start routing prompts without a sales call.
Choose for your workflow
When LiteLLM might be the better fit
Choose LiteLLM when your platform team needs a self-hosted API across applications, with virtual keys, guardrails and spend tracking. Weave Router does not replace that gateway. Evaluate it for model selection inside Codex, Claude Code and Cursor; the products can serve complementary roles.
A few more details
Frequently asked questions
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Open source. Start taking your token budget twice as far.
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