Backmesh
Open-source backend to secure and manage LLM API access
What is Backmesh? Complete Overview
Backmesh is an open-source backend solution designed to protect and manage access to LLM (Large Language Model) APIs. It provides robust security features such as JWT authentication, rate limiting, and resource access control to ensure only authorized users can interact with your LLM APIs. Backmesh is ideal for developers and enterprises looking to safeguard their API keys, prevent abuse, and maintain control over sensitive resources like files and threads. Its battle-tested architecture makes it a reliable choice for securing API endpoints while offering flexibility through self-hosting options.
Backmesh Interface & Screenshots

Backmesh Official screenshot of the tool interface
What Can Backmesh Do? Key Features
JWT Authentication
Backmesh ensures secure access to your LLM APIs by verifying requests with JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) from your app's authentication provider. This guarantees that only authenticated users can make API calls, preventing unauthorized access and potential misuse of your API keys.
Rate Limits per User
With Backmesh, you can configure per-user rate limits to prevent abuse of your LLM APIs. For example, you can set a limit of 5 OpenAI API calls per user per hour, ensuring fair usage and protecting your API resources from being overwhelmed by excessive requests.
API Resource Access Control
Backmesh protects sensitive API resources such as files and threads, ensuring that only the users who create them can access or modify them. This granular control enhances security and privacy, making it ideal for applications handling user-specific data.
Open-Source & Self-Hosting
Backmesh is fully open-source, allowing developers to inspect, modify, and self-host the solution. This flexibility ensures you can tailor the backend to your specific needs while maintaining full control over your infrastructure.
Scalable Pricing
Backmesh offers a simple and predictable pricing model based on requests and monthly active users (MAUs). With options ranging from a free trial to enterprise plans, you can scale your usage as your needs grow without unexpected costs.
Best Backmesh Use Cases & Applications
Secure API Key Management
Developers can use Backmesh to protect their OpenAI API keys from exposure, ensuring only authenticated users can make requests. This is particularly useful for SaaS applications that integrate LLM APIs but need to prevent misuse.
Fair Usage Enforcement
Companies offering LLM-powered features can implement per-user rate limits to prevent abuse and ensure equitable access for all users, maintaining service quality and reducing costs.
Resource Privacy Control
Applications handling user-generated content like files or chat threads can leverage Backmesh to enforce strict access controls, ensuring only the creator can view or modify their data.
How to Use Backmesh: Step-by-Step Guide
Sign up for a free trial on the Backmesh website or download the open-source code from GitHub to self-host the solution.
Integrate Backmesh with your existing authentication provider to enable JWT-based verification for API requests.
Configure rate limits and access control rules for your LLM APIs to prevent abuse and secure sensitive resources.
Deploy Backmesh as a gateway between your application and the LLM API, ensuring all requests pass through its security layer.
Monitor usage and adjust settings as needed, leveraging Backmesh's analytics to optimize performance and security.
Backmesh Pros and Cons: Honest Review
Pros
Considerations
Is Backmesh Worth It? FAQ & Reviews
Yes, Backmesh is fully open-source, allowing developers to inspect, modify, and self-host the solution for complete control over their backend infrastructure.
Backmesh acts as a secure gateway, ensuring API keys are never exposed to end-users. Requests are authenticated via JWTs, and only authorized users can access the LLM APIs.
Absolutely. Backmesh is open-source, so you can download and deploy it on your own servers, giving you full control over your backend security and scalability.
For Pro plans, additional requests are billed at $1 per 1M. Enterprise plans offer unlimited requests. The Starter plan includes 500k requests per month.
Monthly Active Users (MAUs) are counted as unique users who make at least one API request in a given month. Pro plans include 100k MAUs, with additional MAUs billed at $0.003 each.