Does Cheaper Inference have an API?

Yes, Cheaper Inference offers an API.

What platforms does Cheaper Inference support?

Cheaper Inference is available on Web App.

What are the limitations of Cheaper Inference?

Adds a third-party intermediary between the application and the model vendor, which matters for reliability and compliance reviews. Discounts vary widely by model (roughly 30 to 50 percent in the listed examples), so savings depend on the models used. Zero data retention is only available on supported routes, not across the whole catalog.

Cheaper Inference

Name: Cheaper Inference
Author: Cheaper Inference

One OpenAI-compatible API for discounted access to 97 AI models

Intermediate API

Visit Cheaper Inference Back to AI tools

Screenshot of Cheaper Inference, One OpenAI-compatible API for discounted access to 97 AI models

What is Cheaper Inference?

Cheaper Inference is an OpenAI-compatible API gateway giving discounted access to 97 text, image and video models from multiple providers. Usage-based billing starts with a $5 top-up, and switching needs only a new base URL and API key.

Cheaper Inference is a marketplace-style API gateway that resells capacity from several model providers at a discount to list price. Developers point an existing OpenAI-compatible client at a different base URL, swap in a new API key, and keep their messages, tools, streaming and response handling as they are. The model is chosen per request, so one integration can reach text, image and video models from vendors such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, DeepSeek, Z.ai, Black Forest Labs, ElevenLabs and Kuaishou. The homepage doubles as a live rate catalog. It lists 97 models (91 text, 5 image and 1 video), with struck-through list prices beside the discounted input and output rates per million tokens, a discount percentage and 24-hour token activity. Visitors can search, filter by provider, and sort by usage, price or discount. Examples shown include DeepSeek and Z.ai flash models at roughly 40 to 50 percent off and a Claude Opus model at 30 percent off. The service states that billing is usage based, that there is no separate routing surcharge, and that prices never exceed direct list price. Data handling gets its own section. The application records usage and billing metadata only, not prompt or response bodies. Some routes support zero data retention, prompt caching controls pass through when the chosen model supports them, and each request reaches only the provider selected for that route. Every request is visible in a History view in the platform. The audience is engineering teams and independent developers whose inference bills are driven by token volume and who want to cut cost without rewriting client code. Accounts can be funded from $5 with no monthly commitment, and an enterprise page handles sales conversations. A separate form lets providers with spare capacity submit it for review. Compared with calling vendors directly, it trades a single bill and lower rates for an extra intermediary in the request path. Compared with other aggregators, its pitch rests on the visible discount table.

How do you use Cheaper Inference?

1Create an account
Sign up on the platform and fund the balance, which starts from $5. No monthly commitment is required.
2Browse the model catalog
Compare input and output rates, discounts and 24-hour activity on the homepage catalog, then pick a model that fits the workload.
3Inspect a model page
Open a model page, such as the DeepSeek flash entry, to check its pricing details before sending traffic to it.
4Swap the base URL and key
In an OpenAI-compatible client, set the base URL to https://api.cheaperinference.com/v1 and use the new API key. Messages, tools and streaming stay unchanged.
5Send a request and review History
Set the model name per request, then check the History view in the platform to see each request and its usage.

Pros and cons

Pros

Drop-in OpenAI SDK compatibility: only the base URL and API key change, so existing code keeps workingAI
Public live catalog shows list price, discounted price and discount per model before signing upAI
Covers 97 models across text, image and video from many providers through a single integrationAI
Usage-based pricing from a $5 top-up with no monthly commitment keeps the entry cost lowAI
Records only usage and billing metadata, and offers zero-data-retention routes for sensitive workloadsAI

Cons

Adds a third-party intermediary between the application and the model vendor, which matters for reliability and compliance reviewsAI
Discounts vary widely by model (roughly 30 to 50 percent in the listed examples), so savings depend on the models usedAI
Zero data retention is only available on supported routes, not across the whole catalogAI
The homepage gives no uptime, rate-limit or latency figures, so performance is hard to judge before testingAI
Headline savings claims are marketing figures; actual cost depends on the chosen model and traffic mixAI

How much does Cheaper Inference cost?

Pricing

Usage-based pricing per million input and output tokens, with discounts shown per model against list price (for example 30% to 50% off in the featured models). Accounts can be funded from $5 with no monthly commitment. No separate routing surcharge.

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Support

Documentation is available on the platform, and an enterprise page lets teams talk to sales. Security status and privacy and subprocessor pages are linked.

Learn more

Integrations

Works with the OpenAI SDK and any client that accepts a custom base URL and API key. Models come from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, DeepSeek, Z.ai, Black Forest Labs, ElevenLabs and Kuaishou.

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Features

OpenAI-compatible API, 97 models across text, image and video, per-request model selection, live discount catalog with search, provider filter and sorting, request History, optional prompt caching passthrough, zero-data-retention routes, and a capacity-seller intake form.

Frequently asked questions about Cheaper Inference

How much does Cheaper Inference cost?
Usage-based pricing per million input and output tokens, with discounts shown per model against list price (for example 30% to 50% off in the featured models). Accounts can be funded from $5 with no monthly commitment. No separate routing surcharge.
Does Cheaper Inference have an API?
Yes, Cheaper Inference offers an API.
How do you use Cheaper Inference?
The walkthrough on this page covers 5 steps: 1. Create an account 2. Browse the model catalog 3. Inspect a model page 4. Swap the base URL and key 5. Send a request and review History.
What platforms does Cheaper Inference support?
Cheaper Inference is available on Web App.
What does Cheaper Inference integrate with?
Works with the OpenAI SDK and any client that accepts a custom base URL and API key. Models come from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, DeepSeek, Z.ai, Black Forest Labs, ElevenLabs and Kuaishou.
What are the limitations of Cheaper Inference?
Adds a third-party intermediary between the application and the model vendor, which matters for reliability and compliance reviews. Discounts vary widely by model (roughly 30 to 50 percent in the listed examples), so savings depend on the models used. Zero data retention is only available on supported routes, not across the whole catalog.