# gateway vs steel-browser
_Agent Infrastructure · independent comparison_

> gateway and steel-browser are both open-source agent infrastructure you can self-host for free. gateway has wider GitHub adoption — 13k stars vs 7.4k. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**gateway**
- Open source · Infrastructure · 13k★ · TypeScript · MIT · active 2 months ago
- Best for: Routing a single fast API across 250+ LLMs from 40+ providers.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/gateway) · [official](https://portkey.ai/features/ai-gateway)

**steel-browser**
- Open source · Infrastructure · 7.4k★ · TypeScript · Apache-2.0 · active 6 days ago
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/steel-browser) · [official](https://steel.dev)

## Key differences

- gateway has wider GitHub adoption — 13k stars vs 7.4k.
- Licensing differs: gateway is MIT, steel-browser is Apache-2.0.

## Which to choose

**Choose gateway if:** Routing a single fast API across 250+ LLMs from 40+ providers.

**Choose steel-browser if:** Open Source Browser API for AI Agents & Apps. Steel Browser is a batteries-included browser sandbox that lets you automate the web without worrying about infrastructure.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between gateway and steel-browser?**
gateway has wider GitHub adoption — 13k stars vs 7.4k.

**Is gateway or steel-browser better?**
Neither is universally better. gateway is the stronger fit for Routing a single fast API across 250+ LLMs from 40+ providers; steel-browser for open Source Browser API for AI Agents & Apps. Steel Browser is a batteries-included browser sandbox that lets you automate the web without worrying about infrastructure. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is gateway or steel-browser free?**
gateway is free to run and self-host; steel-browser is free to run and self-host. Both are free to self-host — you only pay for the infrastructure and any model or API usage.

**Which is more popular, gateway or steel-browser?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — gateway is ahead (13k vs 7.4k). Stars measure attention, not necessarily the better fit for you.

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Source: [Agent Search Engine](https://agentsearchengine.app) — https://agentsearchengine.app/compare/gateway-vs-steel-browser