How to Use Claude Code and GPT API at 90% Off

The Problem: AI APIs Are Expensive

If you're a developer using Claude Code, Cursor, or building with AI APIs, you know the costs add up fast:

Service	Cost	Limitation
Claude Pro	$20/month	Rate limited, no API access
Anthropic API (Sonnet)	$3/$15 per M tokens	Requires credit card, region restrictions
OpenAI API (GPT-5.4)	$3/$10 per M tokens	Same issues
APIVAI	$0.69/$3.43 per M tokens	No subscription, no restrictions

That's a 77% savings on Claude Sonnet alone.

What is APIVAI?

APIVAI is an AI API gateway that gives you access to the same Claude and GPT models through a single, OpenAI-compatible API:

• All models, one API key — Claude Opus 4.7, Opus 4.6, Sonnet 4.6, Haiku 4.5, GPT-5.4, GPT-5.3 Codex
• 90% cheaper than official API pricing
• No subscription — pay per token, starting from $10
• No VPN needed — works from anywhere
• Drop-in replacement — change one URL, everything else stays the same

How to Use with Claude Code

Just set two environment variables:

Mac/Linux:

ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="your-apivai-key" \
ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.apivai.com" \
claude

Windows PowerShell:

$env:ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN="your-apivai-key"
$env:ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL="https://api.apivai.com"
claude

Same Claude Code experience, 90% cheaper.

How to Use with Cursor

Go to Cursor Settings > Models > Override OpenAI Base URL and set:

https://api.apivai.com/v1

Real Cost Comparison

Usage Pattern	Official API	APIVAI	Savings
Casual (50 msgs/mo)	$1.75	$0.35	80%
Daily user (20 msgs/day)	$12.25	$2.45	80%
Developer (10M tokens/mo)	$45+	$9	80%

No monthly fee. Pay only for what you use.

API Compatibility

Works with any OpenAI-compatible tool: Claude Code, Cursor, Continue, Aider, Open Interpreter, and more.

from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
    api_key="your-apivai-key",
    base_url="https://api.apivai.com/v1"
)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="claude-sonnet-4-6-20250514",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)

Get Started

1. Sign up at apivai.com — email + verification code
2. Top up — starting from $10 via cryptocurrency
3. Set your base URL to api.apivai.com and start coding

No subscription. No VPN. No restrictions.