Quickstart

From key to first request in under a minute. If your tool speaks the OpenAI or Anthropic API, it works here — just change the base URL.

1. Get your key

Sign up with your email (magic-link, no password).
Top up your USD balance with USDT.
Create your API key in the dashboard.

2. Base URL

Point your client at the cheaptokens base URL and use your key.

base_url

https://api.cheaptokens.dev

OpenAI-compatible clients use the /v1 suffix; Anthropic clients use the root URL.

3. Make a request

curl

curl https://api.cheaptokens.dev/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CHEAPTOKENS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "minimax-m2.7",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]
  }'

python · openai

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.cheaptokens.dev/v1",
    api_key="YOUR_CHEAPTOKENS_KEY",
)
resp = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="minimax-m2.7",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
)
print(resp.choices[0].message.content)

node · openai

import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.cheaptokens.dev/v1",
  apiKey: process.env.CHEAPTOKENS_API_KEY,
});
const resp = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: "minimax-m2.7",
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }],
});
console.log(resp.choices[0].message.content);

python · anthropic

from anthropic import Anthropic

client = Anthropic(
    base_url="https://api.cheaptokens.dev",
    api_key="YOUR_CHEAPTOKENS_KEY",
)
msg = client.messages.create(
    model="minimax-m2.7",
    max_tokens=1024,
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
)
print(msg.content[0].text)

4. Tool integrations

Most coding tools accept a custom base URL and key. Set them and you're done.

Cursor — override the OpenAI base URL in settings, paste your key.
Claude Code — set ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL to the cheaptokens URL and your key.
Cline — choose an OpenAI-compatible provider, set base URL and key.
Aider — pass --openai-api-base and --openai-api-key (or env vars).

Tool names are trademarks of their owners. Not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

Limits & errors

200K context. Errors follow the standard OpenAI/Anthropic JSON shape. A 402 means your balance is exhausted — top up to continue.

Ready to build?

Get your key and swap the base URL.

Get started