Enterprise API gateway with AI plugins vs single-binary LLM proxy. Different scale, different tradeoffs.
| Feature | Stockyard | Azure AI Gateway |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Single Go binary, runs anywhere | Azure API Management + AI plugins |
| Vendor lock-in | None | Azure account required |
| Self-hosted | ✓ Default | No — Azure only |
| LLM providers | 40+ (any provider) | Azure OpenAI + limited external |
| OpenAI-compatible API | ✓ Native | ✓ Azure OpenAI format |
| External database | None (embedded SQLite) | Azure Cosmos DB / SQL |
| Request tracing | ✓ Built-in | Via Application Insights |
| Cost tracking | ✓ Per-request, real-time | Via Azure Cost Management |
| Middleware modules | 76 toggleable | APIM policies (XML-based) |
| Audit trail | ✓ Hash-chained | Azure Monitor logs |
| Pricing | Fixed tiers from $0/mo | APIM tier + Azure OpenAI per-token |
| Install time | ~60 seconds | ~45 minutes (Portal setup) |
Based on publicly available documentation as of March 2026.
Azure AI Gateway is not a standalone product. It is Azure API Management (APIM) configured with AI-specific policies for load balancing, token rate limiting, and semantic caching across Azure OpenAI deployments.
If you already run Azure APIM and only use Azure OpenAI models, the AI Gateway policies add useful features. If you need multi-provider routing beyond Azure, or want to avoid Azure infrastructure entirely, you need a different tool.
Azure AI Gateway is designed for Azure OpenAI. You can add limited external providers through custom APIM policies, but it is not built for routing across OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Groq simultaneously.
Stockyard routes to 40+ providers through a single endpoint. Switch between Azure OpenAI, direct OpenAI, Anthropic, and others with model aliasing. No provider-specific SDK integration needed.
Choose Azure AI Gateway if you are fully committed to Azure, only use Azure OpenAI models, already run Azure API Management, and want load balancing across Azure OpenAI deployments in different regions.
Choose Stockyard if you need multi-provider routing, want a self-hosted proxy that runs anywhere, need built-in cost tracking and audit trails, or want to avoid Azure infrastructure dependency.