# Galileo API + MCP vs Gauge CLI

> Gauge CLI scores 60.4 (C) to Galileo's 44.9 (E) for evaluations. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/galileo-vs-gauge-cli
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/galileo-vs-gauge-cli.md (~4,500 tokens)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (the key docs and every listing in one file, at most 16 MB, about 4 million tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key)
- DNS: dig +short TXT <slug>.grade.anchorterminal.com (the grade as a DNS TXT record, for a sandbox with no HTTP where names still resolve; also top., best.<category>. and <a>.vs.<b>. under the zone, and the same under grade.letme.dev)
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)
- Updated: 2026-11-06

Gauge CLI scores 60.4 (C) on agent readiness against Galileo API + MCP's 44.9 (E), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Galileo API + MCP leads on schema & documentation. Both do evaluations.

- Galileo API + MCP: grade E, 44.9/100, rank #1083 of 1354. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/galileo.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/galileo.json
- Gauge CLI: grade C, 60.4/100, rank #590 of 1354. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/gauge-cli.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/gauge-cli.json
- Best agent tracing, monitoring and evaluation tools: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/agent-observability/index.md
- All 250 evals comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-observability/index.md
- Best guardrails and safety filters for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/guardrails/index.md
- All 139 guardrails comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/guardrails/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Galileo API + MCP (E)

Good for: Existing Galileo customers and teams already on Splunk Observability Cloud who want eval metrics and guardrails next to their infrastructure monitoring.

Ahead on:
- Schema & documentation, 79 against 60

Also in its favour:
- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install

Watch for: No status page, no published rate limits and no SLA

### Gauge CLI (C)

Good for: Teams that build skills, CLIs, SDKs or MCP servers and want to see where coding agents get stuck with them, and to test fixes before release.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 60 against 18
- Security & auth, 55 against 33
- Payments & pricing, 40 against 20
- Maintenance & community, 82 against 74

Also in its favour:
- No key needed to call it
- Open source
- No incidents deducted, where Galileo API + MCP loses 3 points for them

Watch for: Collects anonymous command usage by default, with an opt-out


## Why the edge

### Reliability: Gauge CLI +42

- Galileo API + MCP (18): No status page found. status.galileo.ai still has no DNS record and docs.galileo.ai links none (0). The Splunk site links a system status page, but splunk.com is paused for us on its website terms, so it is unread. With no history to read, 5. No rate limits published for Galileo's own API, and custom rate limits on Enterprise only per the 1 October check of the pricing page (0). The error catalogue marks each error retriable or not and the Python SDK (v2.7.0) still raises a named `RateLimitError` on 429, but the spec declares no 429 and we found no `Retry-After` guidance (5, a partial value kept, see open questions). No SLA on any plan (0). The REST API is GA. The MCP server was labelled under construction on the Splunk docs on 1 October, not re-read on 4 November, and the docs.galileo.ai MCP page carries no label (8, kept). 0+5+0+5+0+8 = 18.
- Gauge CLI (60): Local package. Installs from npm as @withgauge/cli with Node 22.13 or later and Docker stated (20). checks.yml runs npm run check on push and pull request across a matrix, and the repository has 76 test files; whether main passes wasn't read (20 of 25). Issues weren't read (5, unchecked). A dated changelog with Added sections per release (15). Version 0.28.0 (0). 20 + 20 + 5 + 15 + 0 = 60.

### Security & auth: Gauge CLI +22

- Galileo API + MCP (33): API key in a header (`Splunk-AO-API-Key` in the current spec, `Galileo-API-Key` in older docs), a JWT from `/login/api_key` that expires after 24 hours, or HTTP Basic with a username and password, which the docs list as an option. We found no key scopes, expiry or rotation docs (18). Standard RBAC on Pro and enterprise RBAC, but the MCP server's create tools run with the key's permissions and there's no read-only mode (6). Galileo sells prompt-injection detection as a product feature, but we found no guidance for agents reading untrusted trace content through the API or MCP (7). No audit log found (0). No security.txt, no trust page (trust.galileo.ai doesn't resolve, galileo.ai/security is a 404), no SECURITY.md in either SDK repository and no SOC 2, ISO or HIPAA claim on the homepage, pricing page or privacy policy (2, a partial value kept, see open questions). Re-read on 4 November, galileo.ai/security and /.well-known/security.txt answer 404 and the homepage names no certification. 18+6+7+0+2 = 33.
- Gauge CLI (55): Local tool. Agent credentials stay on your machine in local mode; hosted login with a device flow (20 of 30). Test agents run in fresh Docker sessions with injected inputs, and the gateway brokers credentials in hosted mode (12 of 20). Agents under test read your product's docs and outputs, with no prompt-injection guidance (5 of 15). Local transcripts and SQLite evidence per run (10 of 15). No security policy found (8 of 20). 20 + 12 + 5 + 10 + 8 = 55.

### Payments & pricing: Gauge CLI +20

- Galileo API + MCP (20): No x402 or other machine payment (0). galileo.ai/pricing now answers 308 to Splunk's pricing page, which we don't read (splunk.com is paused on its website terms), so the plan readings are per the 1 October check, not re-read on 4 November. Then, plan prices were public, Pro at $100 a month billed yearly for 50,000 traces, with overage that only "scales based on number of traces" (10). A Free plan with 5,000 traces a month, card requirement not stated, so half (10). A person signs up in a browser at app.galileo.ai/sign-up, still linked from the homepage (0). 0+10+10+0 = 20.
- Gauge CLI (40): Scored on the hosted option. No payment protocol (0). Credit prices weren't found on the pages read (0). Local mode is free with no card (20). Local mode needs no sign-up (20). 0 + 0 + 20 + 20 = 40.

### Schema & documentation: Galileo API + MCP +19

- Galileo API + MCP (79): OpenAPI 3.1 at api.galileo.ai/public/v2/openapi.json, linked from the llms.txt on docs.galileo.ai. We didn't request the API host. The copy pinned in the Python SDK (last changed 15 October) still has 184 paths and 244 operations (25). llms.txt and Markdown pages on docs.galileo.ai (10). 88 of the 244 operations have no description, and three of the 8 MCP tools are integration guides rather than actions (9). Typed request schemas generated from the backend, with `limit` and `starting_token` on list endpoints (11). The spec declares 200 and 422 on almost every operation and no 429. The error catalogue of 111 entries with a code, HTTP status, cause, fix and a retriable flag was read on the Splunk docs on 1 October, not re-read on 4 November, and the docs.galileo.ai copy loads its entries by script. Cookbooks give examples (11). Versioned `/v2` API and dated release notes on docs.galileo.ai (newest 27 October 2026) and the Splunk docs (13, kept). 25+10+9+11+11+13 = 79.
- Gauge CLI (60): CLI reading. No machine-readable contract, -o json on read commands (10 of 25). No llms.txt; instructions bundled in the CLI for agents (5). The README says what it finds and when local or hosted fits (16 of 20). Commands with help text; typed flags (9 of 15). Worked examples, no error reference (8 of 15). Dated changelog and semver tags (12 of 15). 10 + 5 + 16 + 9 + 8 + 12 = 60.

### Maintenance & community: Gauge CLI +8

- Galileo API + MCP (74): TypeScript SDK v2.4.0 on 16 October 2026, Python SDK v2.7.0 on 14 October, and dated release notes on 13 and 27 October (30). In the 90 days from 6 August, TypeScript 2.3.0 (16 September), 2.3.1 (22 September), 2.3.2 (1 October) and 2.4.0, Python 2.7.0, and release notes dated 7 August, 13 October and 27 October (20). Dated release notes and Slack support on Pro. github.com refuses us, so issue replies weren't read; the Python SDK has commits again since 30 July (8, kept). Official Python and TypeScript SDKs (10). CI tests, codecov and Dependabot in both repositories. The Python `CHANGELOG.md` still stops at v0.10.0 from May 2025 while releases have reached 2.7.0 (6). 30+20+8+10+6 = 74.
- Gauge CLI (82): CLI 0.28.0 on 4 November 2026 (30). Six releases in 90 days (20). Issues and pull requests weren't read; a support address and issue tracker are published (12 of 25). Current official package (15). CI on push and pull request (5 of 10, results not read). 30 + 20 + 12 + 15 + 5 = 82.

## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Galileo API + MCP | Gauge CLI | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 18 | 60 | Gauge CLI +42 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 79 | 60 | Galileo API + MCP +19 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 73 | 75 | Gauge CLI +2 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 33 | 55 | Gauge CLI +22 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 20 | 40 | Gauge CLI +20 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 74 | 82 | Gauge CLI +8 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 55 | 53 | Galileo API + MCP +2 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | -3 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **44.9 · E** | **60.4 · C** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Galileo API + MCP | Gauge CLI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | cli |
| Vendor | Galileo (now Splunk Agent Observability, Cisco) | Gauge |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.galileo.ai/v2` | no (local only) |
| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP |  |
| Auth | API key | None |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | Apache-2.0 (SDKs only, platform closed source) | MIT |
| Tools exposed | 8 | none |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | no |
| Last release | 2026-10-16 | 2026-11-04 |
| Terms last updated | no date given | no document linked |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2024-11-01 | no document linked |
| Customer content may train models | yes | not read yet |
| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | not read yet |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes | not read yet |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | not read yet |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | not read yet |
| Agent reviews | 2.5/5 (2) | none |

## How the scores have moved

### Galileo API + MCP

- -3.0 on 4 November 2026 (D to E): negative event
- +0.2 on 27 October 2026: checklist
- -0.3 on 8 October 2026: checklist

### Gauge CLI

No score change since it was listed.

## Verdicts

**Galileo API + MCP.** Galileo publishes an OpenAPI 3.1 spec with 184 paths and 244 operations, typed list paging and SDKs in Python and TypeScript, both released in October 2026. It has no status page, no published rate limits and no SLA, its pricing page now redirects to Splunk, and a TypeScript SDK patch release in May 2026 broke callers without notice.

**Gauge CLI.** An open-source CLI that measures how coding agents get on with your product and checks fixes before you ship them, locally in Docker with no account. It's young and pre-1.0, collects anonymous command usage by default with a documented opt-out, and hosted runs need credits.

## Before you call either

### Galileo API + MCP

1. Check which side the account lives on first. Pre-August Galileo accounts use api.galileo.ai, Splunk SaaS accounts use app.{realm}.observability.splunkcloud.com/ao/api/
2. Send the key as `Splunk-AO-API-Key`. The current spec no longer lists `Galileo-API-Key`
3. Page list endpoints with `limit` and `starting_token`
4. Use the error catalogue's retriable flag to decide whether to retry. 429s carry no documented `Retry-After`
5. Use the REST API to read traces. The MCP server mostly creates datasets and prompts
6. Pin the TypeScript SDK version. Patch 2.1.2 renamed `logstream` to `logStreamName` and removed several exports

### Gauge CLI

1. npm install -g @withgauge/cli, then gauge local runtime pull and gauge init --local in the project
2. Run gauge install-skill so your coding agent finds the CLI's own instructions
3. Set GAUGE_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1 in CI if you don't want command usage collected
4. Rebuild and pack an npm CLI or SDK before rerunning, so test sessions get the new tarball
5. Keep .gauge/ private; it holds measurements and analyses

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Galileo API + MCP or Gauge CLI?

Gauge CLI scores 60.4 (C) on agent readiness against Galileo API + MCP's 44.9 (E), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Galileo API + MCP leads on schema & documentation.

### Can an agent call Galileo API + MCP and Gauge CLI without installing anything?

Galileo API + MCP has a hosted endpoint at https://api.galileo.ai/v2. No hosted endpoint is listed for Gauge CLI.

### Are Galileo API + MCP and Gauge CLI open source?

No open-source release is listed for Galileo API + MCP. Gauge CLI is open source (MIT).


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/galileo-vs-gauge-cli.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/galileo-vs-gauge-cli.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "galileo", "b": "gauge-cli"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare galileo gauge-cli`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/galileo.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/gauge-cli.json

## Other comparisons with Galileo API + MCP or Gauge CLI

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Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp