# Bifrost

> Apache-2.0 AI gateway — perf angle vs LiteLLM (Maxim)

**Category:** AI Agents  
**Pricing:** freemium  
**URL:** https://docs.getbifrost.ai  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/maximhq/bifrost  
**Added:** 2026-09-15

---

## The Hook

Bifrost is Maxim’s Apache-2.0 AI gateway — OpenAI-compatible multi-provider proxy with a hard performance pitch versus LiteLLM.

## What's Good

Apache-2.0 (maximhq/bifrost). `npx -y @maximhq/bifrost` zero-config gateway; Go SDK path too. Fallbacks, load balancing, MCP tools, semantic caching, governance/virtual keys. Docs at docs.getbifrost.ai. Benchmarks claim large overhead wins vs LiteLLM at high RPS — verify on your hardware.

## The Catch

Vs LiteLLM: same gateway job with a Go/perf positioning — not a model marketplace. Maxim upsell: enterprise/clustering/adaptive LB/OIDC provisioning and getmaxim.ai Bifrost enterprise pages are the commercial gravity; OSS gateway still runs locally. You still pay upstream model providers.

## Verdict

Apache-2.0 AI gateway. Fast LiteLLM alternative; Maxim enterprise is the loud paid path.