Proxon vs Spotlight by Backplanes (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Proxon and Spotlight by Backplanes on pricing, features, and fit, so you can decide which is right for you.
Quick answer
Proxon and Spotlight by Backplanes are both strong choices, but they fit different needs. Choose Proxon if you mainly need auditing all ai applications in use across a large enterprise to identify shadow it risks — its edge is provides comprehensive visibility into both approved and unauthorized ai tool usage. Choose Spotlight by Backplanes if you need reviewing ai-assisted coding sessions to identify best practices — its edge is provides rare visibility into how ai coding tools are actually being used. Proxon starts at On request; Spotlight by Backplanes starts at Pricing details not publicly listed; contact for plans.
Features compared
- Automated discovery and inventory of all AI tools across an organization, including shadow AI
- Ownership assignment and policy binding per AI system
- Real-time spend tracking and budget attribution for each AI tool
- Centralized compliance and governance dashboard for IT and security teams
- Automated session reports for Claude Code and Codex interactions
- Pattern analysis across multiple AI coding sessions
- Prompt and output summaries for review and documentation
- Integration with popular AI coding assistants and developer workflows
Pros & cons
- Provides comprehensive visibility into both approved and unauthorized AI tool usage
- Directly links AI tools to owners, policies, and costs for clear accountability
- Designed specifically for enterprise security and IT governance workflows
- Pricing is not publicly available, making it difficult to budget without a sales conversation
- May require significant onboarding effort to fully integrate with existing IT infrastructure
- Provides rare visibility into how AI coding tools are actually being used
- Helps teams iteratively improve their prompting and AI workflows
- Useful for both individual developers and team leads managing AI adoption
- Pricing is not transparent and requires contacting the company for details
- Currently focused on Claude Code and Codex, limiting support for other AI coding tools
The verdict
Choose Proxon if
you mainly need to auditing all ai applications in use across a large enterprise to identify shadow it risks. Its edge: provides comprehensive visibility into both approved and unauthorized ai tool usage.
Choose Spotlight by Backplanes if
you mainly need to reviewing ai-assisted coding sessions to identify best practices. Its edge: provides rare visibility into how ai coding tools are actually being used.
Frequently asked questions
Is Proxon better than Spotlight by Backplanes?
Neither is universally better. Proxon is stronger for auditing all ai applications in use across a large enterprise to identify shadow it risks, with an edge in provides comprehensive visibility into both approved and unauthorized ai tool usage. Spotlight by Backplanes is stronger for reviewing ai-assisted coding sessions to identify best practices, with an edge in provides rare visibility into how ai coding tools are actually being used. Pick based on your main task.
Which is cheaper, Proxon or Spotlight by Backplanes?
Proxon starts at On request and Spotlight by Backplanes starts at Pricing details not publicly listed; contact for plans. Free tier: Proxon — No public free tier; Spotlight by Backplanes — Basic session reports available at no cost.
What is Proxon best for?
Proxon is best for auditing all ai applications in use across a large enterprise to identify shadow it risks, enforcing ai usage policies and mapping each tool to a responsible owner, tracking and controlling ai-related software spend across business units.
What is Spotlight by Backplanes best for?
Spotlight by Backplanes is best for reviewing ai-assisted coding sessions to identify best practices, tracking team-level ai coding productivity and output quality, documenting ai session context for code reviews and onboarding.
Do Proxon and Spotlight by Backplanes have free plans?
Proxon: No public free tier. Spotlight by Backplanes: Basic session reports available at no cost. Check each tool's pricing page for current limits, as plans change.