Save up to 60% on AI Model Costs

One API Endpoint,
Cheaper Access to AI Models

Cheaper Inference is an OpenAI-compatible API marketplace — swap your base URL and key, keep your existing code, and access discounted rates across providers like OpenAI, DeepSeek, and others. No monthly commitment, fund your account from $5.

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Why I'm Sharing This

SimpleReferral

I ran across Cheaper Inference while comparing API costs for a side project — it’s a marketplace that sits in front of providers like OpenAI, DeepSeek, and others, and routes your request to whichever one is currently offering the model at a discount. The pitch is that you swap your base URL and API key and keep every other line of your code exactly as it is; it’s built to be a drop-in replacement for the OpenAI SDK.

I haven’t run it at scale myself, so I can’t vouch for reliability under heavy production load, but the live rate comparison on their site is public and the discounts looked real when I checked. I’m sharing my link because it’s a straightforward way to see if it’s worth trying for your own project — I can’t confirm what, if anything, either of us gets for the referral itself.

60%

Discounted Access Across Multiple AI Providers

Their live catalog shows real-time discounts on models from OpenAI, DeepSeek, Z.ai, and more — I've seen discounts as high as 60% off list price when checking their site. Pricing is usage-based with no separate routing surcharge.

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How It Works

Built to be a drop-in swap for the OpenAI SDK.

1

Create an Account

Sign up through my link and fund your account — their site lists a minimum starting balance of $5.

2

Swap Your Base URL

Point your existing OpenAI-compatible code at their endpoint (api.cheaperinference.com/v1) and use your new API key.

3

Keep Your Code As-Is

Your request format, streaming, tools, and response handling stay the same — only the base URL and key change.

4

Pay Usage-Based Rates

You're billed per request at the discounted rate shown in their live catalog, with no monthly subscription required.

What I Noticed Checking It Out

A developer-focused tool, not a consumer product.

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OpenAI SDK Compatible

Their pitch is that you change two values — base URL and API key — and everything else in your integration works unchanged.

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Public Live Rate Comparison

Their homepage shows a live catalog of model pricing and discount percentages, so you can check current rates before committing.

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Zero Data Retention Option

For routes that support it, they offer zero-data-retention controls — worth checking if data handling matters for your use case.

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No Monthly Commitment

It's usage-based billing starting from a small initial balance, not a recurring subscription.

Questions I'd Want Answered

What I checked before considering it for a project.

It's built for developers integrating AI model APIs into their own applications — not a general consumer app. If you're not writing code that calls an LLM API, this isn't for you.

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I wasn't able to confirm specific referral or credit terms publicly on their site at the time of writing — any such program appears account-specific. Check your dashboard after signing up, or contact their support, for current terms.

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It's usage-based: you fund an account balance and pay per request at the rate shown for that model in their live catalog, with no separate routing surcharge on top of the provider's discounted rate.

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Their site publishes a live, browsable rate comparison so you can check current discounts yourself before funding an account — I'd recommend checking it directly rather than taking any fixed percentage as guaranteed, since rates change.

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Their stated design is a drop-in replacement for OpenAI-compatible requests — you change the base URL and API key and keep your existing request format, streaming, and tool-calling code as-is.

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Their site describes what's logged (usage and billing metadata) versus what's not stored (prompt/response content), and offers zero-data-retention options on supported routes. Review their privacy policy directly for your specific use case.

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Curious What You'd Save?

Check their live rate comparison and see if switching your API base URL is worth it for your project.

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Developer tool. Pricing, discounts, and any referral terms are set by Cheaper Inference.