AgentIndex icon
AgentIndex
helio logo
helio
★ 14
vs
tsidp logo
tsidp
★ 684

helio vs tsidp

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.; tsidp: `tsidp` is an experimental OpenID Connect (OIDC) and OAuth Identity Provider that integrates with your Tailscale network, enabling applications to authenticate users using their Tailscale identities. It supports both OIDC-compatible applications and authenticated MCP client/server connections, offering flexible deployment options via Docker or direct Go execution.

01

TL;DR

helio logo
helioSecurity & Safety · ★ 14

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

Read helio full review →
tsidp logo
tsidpSecurity & Safety · ★ 684

Centralized authentication for self-hosted applications within a Tailscale network.

Read tsidp full review →
02

Side-by-Side Comparison

Field
helio logohelio
tsidp logotsidp
Category
Security & Safety
Security & Safety
Stars
★ 14
★ 684
License
Apache-2.0
BSD-3-Clause
Install Command
npx @gethelio/proxy init
echo 'services: tsidp: container_name: tsidp image: ghcr.io/tailscale/tsidp:latest volumes: - tsidp-data:/data environment: - TAILSCALE_USE_WIP_CODE=1 - TS_STATE_DIR=/data - TS_HOSTNAME=idp - TSIDP_ENABLE_STS=1 # Optional: Tailscale auth key for automatic node registration # - TS_AUTHKEY=tskey-auth-xxxxx # REPLACE WITH YOUR_TAILSCALE_AUTHKEY volumes: tsidp-data:' > compose.yaml && docker compose up -d
Updated
1d ago
2d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Website
↗ Visit
↗ Visit
GitHub
↗ GitHub
↗ GitHub
Tags
MCP Proxy, AI Agent Governance, Tool Call Policy
OpenID Connect, OAuth, Identity Provider
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.
tsidp logotsidp
01Functions as an OIDC/OAuth Identity Provider tightly integrated with your Tailscale network.
02Authenticates applications and services using existing Tailscale identities.
03Supports OpenID Connect and OAuth protocols, including Dynamic Client Registration (DCR) and Secure Token Service (STS).
04Offers robust access control through Tailscale Application capability grants for UI and DCR endpoints.
05Deployable with Docker, Docker Compose, or as a Go application, supporting persistent state storage.
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.
tsidp logotsidp
↳Centralized authentication for self-hosted applications within a Tailscale network.
↳Integrating SaaS products with Tailscale identities by exposing tsidp via Tailscale Funnel.
↳Acting as an Identity Provider for platforms like Proxmox, Grafana, or Jellyfin.
↳Enabling secure client/server authentication based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
05

Best For

helio logohelio
—
tsidp logotsidp
Hidden Gem
FAQ

FAQ

What is the difference between helio and tsidp?
Both helio and tsidp are in the Security & Safety category. helio has 14 stars, while tsidp has 684 stars.
Which is better, helio or tsidp?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose helio if Prevent unauthorized API calls and modifications to production records by AI agents., and tsidp if Centralized authentication for self-hosted applications within a Tailscale network..
Is helio free or open source?
Yes, helio is open source on GitHub (Apache-2.0).
Is tsidp free or open source?
Yes, tsidp is open source on GitHub (BSD-3-Clause).
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Related

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