Audit-first LLM gateway for SOC2 path
| Feature | Empire Gateway | Kong AI Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | yes | Limited / trial only |
| Battle-tested in our production | yes | Usually no |
| Open / self-hostable option | Yes (OSS path planned) | Typically no |
| SOC2-track audit log | yes | Add-on |
| Multi-tenant by default | yes | Mixed |
| EU + US data residency | yes | EU often add-on |
| Public roadmap | yes | No |
| Per-MAU billing | No | Yes (the problem) |
Honest answer: pick Kong AI Gateway if you need their specific brand-name on a procurement form, or if you're already locked into their ecosystem and switching cost exceeds 12 months of price delta. Otherwise — read our docs, try the free tier, decide.