Find AI Proxy Providers for Cheap OpenAI and Claude APIs
Compare AI proxy providers offering OpenAI API proxy, Claude API proxy, and OpenAI-compatible services by pricing rules, supported models, payment methods, and selection guidance.
Four things to verify before choosing an AI proxy provider
Start with price, then check pricing rules, model coverage, payment methods, and invoice support. Once the real cost is clear, it is easier to tell which provider is worth it.
Pricing rules
Start with how each provider explains plans, credits, multipliers, and overage pricing. A cheap headline is not enough; record the rules first, then calculate your actual cost.
Model coverage
A proxy may map expensive models to cheaper ones. Verify the model name, protocol compatibility, and response shape before you connect it.
Payment methods
Alipay, WeChat Pay, credit cards, and USDT affect top-up convenience. Teams should also check long-term payment and reimbursement workflows.
Invoice support
For teams, client projects, or company reimbursement, invoice support can matter more than one-off price. The filter only shows providers where invoice support has been observed.
Guides
Claude Code / Codex / Cursor setup guides
Run the smallest working setup before deciding whether to use an AI proxy provider long term.
About cheap OpenAI API, Claude API proxies, and proxy services
What is a Claude API proxy?
A Claude API proxy is usually a third-party service that provides Anthropic or Claude-compatible endpoints. Developers use its Base URL and API key to route Claude Code, backend, or automation requests to the target model.
How is an OpenAI API proxy different from the official API?
OpenAI API proxy services usually provide OpenAI-compatible endpoints, separate API keys, prepaid accounts, and custom Base URLs. Differences include pricing rules, available models, stability, payment methods, invoice support, and compatibility.
What should I check before choosing cheap OpenAI API or an AI API proxy?
Prioritize four things: clear pricing rules, support for your payment methods, invoice availability, and coverage for the models and protocols required by Claude, Codex, Cursor, or similar tools.
Is cheap OpenAI API always cheaper than the official API?
Not always. Providers may bill by multipliers, plans, daily credits, balances, or model-specific rules. First confirm the rules, models, and payment terms, then calculate your actual usage cost.
How do I build an AI proxy service?
A typical setup starts with a cloud server, an open-source proxy project, a domain, certificates, proxy configuration, and account authorization. Then users connect with a Base URL and API key.
It is a forwarding layer: users send requests to the proxy, and the proxy routes them through its accounts, models, and rules to upstream services. The outside API looks familiar, while forwarding and billing happen in the middle.
