TokelyTHE SHORT ANSWER
A direct API is usually enough when your application uses one provider and your team can manage its credentials, limits and billing. An LLM gateway becomes useful when several applications or providers need shared routing, usage controls and a consistent integration. The deciding factor is the operational work you remove, compared with the extra dependency you introduce.
What changes when you add an LLM gateway?
With a direct integration, your backend sends requests to the model provider. With a gateway, your backend sends requests to an intermediary, which forwards them to an eligible upstream service. The gateway can translate request formats and centralize policies, but its actual capabilities depend on the product.
An API aggregator generally emphasizes access to multiple models and consolidated billing. A gateway can also run on your infrastructure and use your own provider accounts. These categories overlap; they do not describe an identical business model.
When is a direct API the better choice?
Consider a document summarizer that uses one model, one queue and one backend service. If it has predictable traffic and already records token usage, another infrastructure layer may save little work. Direct access can also matter when the product depends on a provider-specific endpoint that intermediaries do not expose.
Before adding a gateway, write down the repeated work: three credential stores, four retry implementations, missing customer cost attribution, or manual provider changes during incidents. A concrete list makes the decision easier than comparing feature counts.
When does a gateway earn its place?
Suppose a SaaS product uses one model for classification, another for drafting and a third for code generation. Each integration otherwise needs its own authentication, error handling and usage reconciliation. A shared layer can keep these concerns out of individual product features.
However, one endpoint also becomes a dependency shared by all three workflows. Check its timeout behavior, capacity limits, request logging and export options. A gateway cannot eliminate the limits of the providers behind it.
Does a gateway automatically make inference cheaper?
No. Compare the full bill for an identical workload: uncached input, cached input, output, retries and any platform fees. If a gateway adds $100 per month but removes $500 of recurring engineering work, it may still be economical. Those figures are an illustrative decision model, not a Tokely price quote.
Tokely documents a common API key and balance, model-specific endpoint support and configurable supplier routing. Check the Tokely model guide for the available controls and their constraints.
Can you switch back to direct access later?
Keep provider-specific configuration behind an adapter in your application. Store your own conversation state and request identifiers. This gives you a practical migration path if prices, capabilities or requirements change.
Compare your required endpoints with Tokely’s migration guide. If the supported contract fits your application, the quickstart shows how to connect.