Helicone and Traceloop are two leading open-source tools for monitoring large language models (LLMs), each offering distinct features tailored to different user needs. Helicone provides an intuitive, UI-driven experience with robust end-to-end observability, including advanced analytics, caching, and security features, making it accessible for both technical and non-technical users. It supports seamless integration with major LLM providers and offers comprehensive cost tracking and alerting capabilities. Traceloop, on the other hand, is designed for code-first teams and focuses on execution tracing, providing detailed debugging and performance monitoring through SDK-based integrations. It offers pre-built evaluation metrics and integrates easily with OpenTelemetry, catering to users who prioritize standard toolsets for evaluation and tracing. While Helicone excels in ease of integration and security, Traceloop provides in-depth tracing for those already using OpenTelemetry. Both tools support self-hosting, but Helicone's approach requires minimal setup, appealing to users looking for simplicity and efficiency.