A cheaper, transparent alternative for Cursor

Swap opaque credits for fixed USD per-token pricing. Override the OpenAI base URL and use the same models for a fraction of the cost.

Get a cheap key

Transparent, fixed pricing

No credit buckets, no surprises — just published per-million-token rates in USD, roughly 10× cheaper than OpenRouter on the same model. You see exactly what each request costs.

Override the OpenAI base URL

Cursor lets you set a custom OpenAI-compatible base URL and key. Point it at cheaptokens and keep your workflow — same models, drop-in, far cheaper. Pay-as-you-go from a USD balance topped up with USDT.

Drop-in: override the base URL

env

# Cursor → Settings → Models → OpenAI API → Override Base URL
Base URL: https://api.cheaptokens.dev/v1
API Key:  YOUR_CHEAPTOKENS_KEY

Same model, a fraction of the price

Per-million-token rates versus OpenRouter on the same model.

Model	OpenRouter	cheaptokens	You save
MiniMax-M2.7	$0.24 / $0.96	$0.025 / $0.1	~10× cheaper
Kimi-K2.6	$0.66 / $3.41	$0.07 / $0.35	~9× cheaper

Same models. USD per 1M tokens (input / output). OpenRouter shown for comparison. · Open cost calculator

FAQ

Does this work with Cursor's Agent and Composer?

Yes — they call the OpenAI-compatible endpoint you set, so the override applies to chat, Composer and agent runs alike.

Will my override survive Cursor updates?

Yes — the custom base URL lives in Cursor's model settings and persists; you only re-enter it if you reset settings.

Can I keep Cursor's own plan too?

Yes — override only the OpenAI custom base URL here; Cursor's built-in models stay on your Cursor plan.

Related use cases

For Cline For coding For Aider

Pay for tokens, not opaque credits

Create an account, top up with USDT, and point Cursor at cheaptokens.

Get started

Not affiliated with or endorsed by Cursor. Compatible via the standard OpenAI API.