Best AIGateways

The 4 Best AI API Gateways

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Editor's Choice for 2026
Best
1
Novarelay
  • One OpenAI-compatible API for GPT, Claude & Gemini
  • Up to 40% cheaper than going direct — same models, lower bill
  • 99.99% uptime SLA with multi-region automatic failover
  • Works with OpenAI SDK, Claude Code, Codex & Gemini CLI
Works with: OpenAI SDK · Python · Node.js · cURL
Independent comparison · Updated July 2026
9.8
EXCELLENT
Pay‑as‑you‑go from $1
No subscription.
2
OpenRouter
  • Many models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta & xAI
  • Transparent passthrough pricing — no markup on model rates
  • Dozens of free models, credits that never expire
  • Automatic provider routing & failover on one endpoint
Works with: OpenAI SDK · Python · Node.js · cURL
9.5
EXCELLENT
Credits never expire.
3
CometAPI
  • Many models through a single OpenAI-compatible API
  • Permanently 20% below official vendor pricing
  • Multi-modal: text, image, video & audio on one key
  • 99.9% uptime SLA, no subscription, no minimum spend
Works with: OpenAI SDK · Python · Node.js · cURL
9.2
EXCELLENT
20% below vendor rates
No minimum spend.
4
AiHubMix
  • Many models incl. — GPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen
  • OpenAI calls load-balanced across OpenAI & Azure for stability
  • Models run instantly — no card on file required
  • Unlimited concurrency with a live public status page
Works with: OpenAI SDK · Python · Node.js · cURL
9.0
Great
No card required.


How we rate AI API gateways

Our team continuously tests the gateways that resell access to large language models. We score each provider across 40+ data points, focusing on the factors that matter most to developers: model coverage, real pricing, reliability and how quickly you can ship.

Model coverage & compatibility

We check which models each gateway actually exposes — GPT, Claude, Gemini, image and multi-modal models — and how current they are. We give higher marks to providers with a truly OpenAI-compatible endpoint, because it lets you point an existing SDK at a new base URL and switch models without rewriting your code.

Real pricing & savings

A single unified bill only helps if the numbers add up. We compare each gateway's token rates against buying direct from the labs, look for hidden platform or credit-purchase fees, and note whether credits expire, whether there is a free tier, and the minimum you need to top up to get started.

Reliability & uptime

Production traffic needs to stay up. We look at published uptime SLAs, multi-region failover, automatic rerouting between providers, rate limits and whether the gateway runs a public status page you can actually verify.

Developer experience

Finally, we weigh how fast you get to a first successful call: clear documentation, a usage and logs dashboard, SDK and CLI integrations, and responsive support. The easier a gateway is to adopt, the higher it scores.

Disclaimer

We provide honest reviews, information and side-by-side comparisons to help you find the gateway that fits your needs. Details such as prices, free credits and model availability are set by each provider and can change at any time; nothing here is legal, financial or professional advice.

We are an independent comparison platform. Although we are independent, we may receive compensation from the companies featured on this website, and this can affect where and how offers appear. Our website is free to use. Please review each provider's own terms and pricing before you build on it, and always keep your API keys secure.

AI API keys in 2026: how to get one and cut your token bill

Whether you need an OpenAI API key for ChatGPT models, a Google Gemini API key from Google AI Studio, an Anthropic Claude API key, or a single OpenRouter API key that reaches hundreds of models, the setup is similar and the pricing is easier to compare than it looks. This guide shows how to get each API key, what the current rates are, and how an AI API gateway can lower your bill.

How to get an OpenAI API key (ChatGPT / GPT-5.5)

To create an OpenAI API key, sign in at platform.openai.com, open API keys and generate a new secret key (your OPENAI_API_KEY). Add billing, then call the ChatGPT API with the GPT-5.5 API or the GPT-Image-2 API for images. As of July 2026 the GPT-5.5 API costs $5 per 1M input tokens and $30 per 1M output tokens, with cached input at just $0.50 — so repeated prompt prefixes are far cheaper. Keep your openai_api_key secret and rotate it if it ever leaks.

How to get a Google Gemini API key (Google AI Studio)

The fastest way to a Gemini API key is Google AI Studio: open aistudio.google.com, click Get API key and copy your Google AI Studio API key. That single key unlocks the Gemini API across the Gemini 3.5 Flash API ($1.50 / $9 per 1M tokens, with a generous free tier) and Gemini 3.1 Pro ($2 / $12). If you searched for “gemini get api key”, “api key gemini” or “google ai api key”, this is the same flow — Google AI Studio is the front door to the Google AI API.

How to get an Anthropic Claude API key

For a Claude API key, sign in at console.anthropic.com, add credit and create a key (your ANTHROPIC_API_KEY). The Anthropic API gives you the Claude Opus 4.8 API ($5 / $25 per 1M tokens), Claude Sonnet 4.6 ($3 / $15) and Haiku 4.5 ($1 / $5). Batch mode is ~50% cheaper and prompt caching cuts cached input by about 90%, which is the biggest lever for high-volume Claude API workloads.

OpenRouter, Groq and unified API gateways

Don’t want a separate key per lab? An OpenRouter API key gives you one OpenAI-compatible endpoint to 300+ models across OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta and xAI — searches for “openrouter api”, “open router api key” or “openrouter ai api key” all land here. A Groq API key targets a different need: extremely low-latency inference for open models. Dedicated gateways like Novarelay, CometAPI and AiHubMix resell the same frontier models through one balance, often below list price.

What is an AI API gateway — and when one key beats many

An AI API gateway is a single OpenAI-compatible API key that routes to many models — GPT, Claude, Gemini and image models — so you build against one base URL, switch models instantly, and see usage, logs and billing in one place. It shines when you want to A/B different models, avoid juggling three billing accounts, or add automatic failover between providers. If you only ever use one lab, going direct (a plain openai api key, gemini api key or claude api key) is simplest; if you use several, a gateway usually wins on convenience and sometimes on price.

AI token optimization: six ways to lower cost

AI token optimization is where most teams save real money:

  • Cache prompt prefixes — cached input is up to 90% cheaper on Claude and a fraction of the price on GPT-5.5 and Gemini.
  • Use batch mode — roughly 50% off on OpenAI, Anthropic and Google when latency isn’t critical.
  • Right-size the model — send routine calls to Gemini 3.5 Flash or Haiku, reserve Opus and GPT-5.5 for hard tasks.
  • Trim prompts and cap output — output tokens cost 5–6× input, so set a max-output limit.
  • Route through a gateway — one key can auto-pick the cheapest healthy provider per request.
  • Watch long context — prompts over ~200K tokens are billed at a premium on several models.

Direct vs gateway: see the numbers

Before you commit, weigh each gateway’s headline discount against the official rates: GPT-5.5 at $5 / $30 per 1M tokens, Claude Opus 4.8 at $5 / $25, and Gemini 3.5 Flash at $1.50 / $9. A gateway only saves money if its effective per-1M price — after any credit or platform fees, and after caching and batch discounts — beats buying an OpenAI, Anthropic or Google API key directly.

Is the GPT-5.5 API expensive?

At $5 / $30 per 1M tokens it sits mid-range for a frontier model; cached input ($0.50) and batch mode (~50% off) bring the effective openai api cost down a lot for repetitive workloads.

Can one API key call GPT, Claude and Gemini?

Yes — a gateway’s OpenAI-compatible key calls the ChatGPT API, Anthropic API and Gemini API from the same endpoint, so you don’t need a separate openai_api_key, anthropic_api_key and Google AI Studio key in every project.

Where is the “get API key” button for each provider?

OpenAI: platform.openai.com → API keys. Google: Google AI Studio → Get API key. Anthropic: console.anthropic.com → API keys. OpenRouter: openrouter.ai → Keys. Each issues a secret token you paste into your app as an environment variable.

Last updated: July 2026 · Independent comparison, funded by referral commissions. Model names and trademarks (OpenAI, ChatGPT, GPT, Anthropic, Claude, Google, Gemini, OpenRouter, Groq) belong to their respective owners and are used here for identification only. Pricing is set by each provider and can change — always verify before you build.

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