Best Gateways for an OpenAI / ChatGPT API Key

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

To create an OpenAI API key directly, 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, the faster GPT-5.4, or the GPT-Image-2 model for images. As of July 2026, GPT-5.5 costs $5 per 1M input tokens and $30 per 1M output tokens, with cached input at $0.50; GPT-5.4 is priced lower for high-volume workloads.

Get the same GPT models cheaper through a gateway

An AI API gateway gives you one OpenAI-compatible open api key that reaches GPT-5.5 and GPT-5.4 (plus Claude and Gemini) without juggling separate accounts. Because a gateway resells the same models, your code keeps using the OpenAI SDK — you only swap the base URL and the key. Our top pick, Novarelay, exposes GPT-5.5 and GPT-5.4 through a single key at up to 20% below OpenAI’s direct pricing, with pay-as-you-go credits from $1 and a usage dashboard.

Is the GPT-5.5 API expensive?

GPT-5.5 costs $5 per 1M input tokens and $30 per 1M output tokens. Cached input ($0.50) and batch mode (about 50% off) reduce the effective OpenAI API cost, and a discount gateway can lower it further on the same model.

What is the difference between GPT-5.5 and GPT-5.4?

GPT-5.5 is the flagship with the highest quality; GPT-5.4 is priced lower and is a good default for high-volume ChatGPT API workloads. Both are reachable with one OpenAI API key or one gateway key.

Can I use my existing OpenAI SDK with a gateway?

Yes. A gateway with an OpenAI-compatible endpoint is a drop-in: point the OpenAI SDK at the gateway base URL and paste the gateway key in place of your openai_api_key.

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