AgentIndex icon
AgentIndex
helio logo
helio
★ 14
vs
authmcp-gateway logo
authmcp-gateway
★ 12

helio vs authmcp-gateway

helio: Helio is an open-source MCP proxy that provides governance for AI agents by enforcing policies on tool calls, managing spend, and routing approvals. It operates between agents and their tools, ensuring useful autonomy without unlimited authority across various platforms and frameworks.; authmcp-gateway: AuthMCP Gateway acts as a full Model Context Protocol proxy, centralizing authentication, authorization, and monitoring for multiple backend MCP servers. It provides industry-standard security features like OAuth 2.0 and JWT, along with real-time performance and security event tracking.

01

TL;DR

helio logo
helioSecurity & Safety · ★ 14

Prevent unauthorized API calls and modifications to production records by AI agents.

Read helio full review →
authmcp-gateway logo
authmcp-gatewaySecurity & Safety · ★ 12

Centralized Access for Multiple MCP Services: Provides a single, authenticated endpoint to access various Model Context Protocol servers (e.g., RAG, custom tools) without managing individual credentials.

Read authmcp-gateway full review →
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
helio logohelio
authmcp-gateway logoauthmcp-gateway
Category
Security & Safety
Security & Safety
Stars
★ 14
★ 12
License
Apache-2.0
MIT
Install Command
npx @gethelio/proxy init
pip install authmcp-gateway
Updated
1d ago
3d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Website
↗ Visit
↗ Visit
GitHub
↗ GitHub
↗ GitHub
Tags
MCP Proxy, AI Agent Governance, Tool Call Policy
Gateway, Proxy, Authentication
03

Features

helio logohelio
01Declarative Policy Engine: Define YAML rules for tool names, inputs, and state, with hot-reloading and dry-run mode.
02Cross-Tool Spend Budgets: Aggregate and cap spending across multiple tools and MCP servers with break-glass approvals.
03Approval Workflows: Route sensitive tool calls to Slack, webhooks, or the dashboard for human review and approval.
04Comprehensive Audit Trail: Record all tool calls, policy decisions, and responses for full traceability and searchability.
05Evidence Grounding: Require fresh, application-provided evidence to validate actions, preventing accidental skips.
authmcp-gateway logoauthmcp-gateway
01Full MCP Protocol Proxy with Multi-server Aggregation: Handles all MCP capabilities (tools, resources, prompts, completions) and aggregates results from multiple backend servers.
02Centralized Authentication & Authorization: Implements OAuth 2.0, JWT, Dynamic Client Registration (DCR), user management, and rate limiting for secure access.
03Real-Time Monitoring & Admin Dashboard: Offers live activity feeds, performance metrics, security event logging, and an admin interface for user and server configuration.
04Robust Security Features: Includes JWT-based authentication, secure credential storage, CORS protection, request validation, and suspicious activity detection.
04

Use Cases

helio logohelio
↳Prevent unauthorized API calls and modifications to production records by AI agents.
↳Establish centralized governance for AI agents operating across multiple platforms like Claude, ChatGPT, and LangChain.
↳Implement human-in-the-loop approval workflows for sensitive or destructive agent operations.
↳Manage and cap cumulative spending by AI agents across various integrated tools and services.
authmcp-gateway logoauthmcp-gateway
↳Centralized Access for Multiple MCP Services: Provides a single, authenticated endpoint to access various Model Context Protocol servers (e.g., RAG, custom tools) without managing individual credentials.
↳Enhancing Security for AI Agents/Clients: Implements robust security layers like OAuth 2.0, JWT, and rate limiting to protect AI clients (e.g., Codex) interacting with MCP backends.
↳Monitoring and Auditing MCP Interactions: Offers real-time activity monitoring, performance metrics, and security event logging to track and audit all MCP requests and potential threats.
↳Simplifying Client Onboarding with DCR: Enables dynamic client registration for MCP clients, allowing them to self-register for OAuth without manual provisioning by administrators.
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between helio and authmcp-gateway?
Both helio and authmcp-gateway are in the Security & Safety category. helio has 14 stars, while authmcp-gateway has 12 stars.
Which is better, helio or authmcp-gateway?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose helio if Prevent unauthorized API calls and modifications to production records by AI agents., and authmcp-gateway if Centralized Access for Multiple MCP Services: Provides a single, authenticated endpoint to access various Model Context Protocol servers (e.g., RAG, custom tools) without managing individual credentials..
Is helio free or open source?
Yes, helio is open source on GitHub (Apache-2.0).
Is authmcp-gateway free or open source?
Yes, authmcp-gateway is open source on GitHub (MIT).
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