CheapAI: OpenAI and Anthropic Compatible AI Gateway with Web Chat, CLI, and IDE Endpoints

A multi-platform AI gateway tool named 'CheapAI' (cheapai.im) has been launched to streamline model invocation across diverse developer environments for individual developers and small engineering teams. It bridges access across web browser chat interfaces, terminal CLI environments, and AI coding IDEs such as Cursor and Claude Code using shared endpoints and a single account credit balance.

Image source: cheapai.im

As the adoption of AI coding assistants and agentic tools accelerates, developers frequently navigate fragmented setups—maintaining separate subscription tiers or juggling disjointed API keys across IDE extensions, terminal shells, and browser tabs. CheapAI addresses this workflow friction by offering standard OpenAI and Anthropic compatible protocol endpoints alongside a dedicated npm CLI package, unifying model consumption across editors and command-line environments.

OpenAI and Anthropic Compatible Endpoints for IDE Workflows

CheapAI's core foundation rests on standard protocol endpoints designed for drop-in compatibility with mainstream developer tools and SDK ecosystems.

Rather than imposing proprietary SDKs or custom frameworks, it supports standard API specifications, allowing developers to switch their existing tools simply by updating the base URL and API token settings.

• OpenAI-Compatible Base URL and API Key: Supports the https://api.cheapai.im/v1 endpoint and API keys prefixed with csk_. This allows straightforward integration into tools built on OpenAI-compatible SDKs, including Cursor and Cline.
• Claude Code Integration: Developers can route Claude Code traffic through the gateway by configuring the environment variable ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://api.cheapai.im.
• Protocol Parity: Supports streaming responses and tool/function calling required for reliable AI agent operations.

Dedicated CLI Package (@akitect/cheapai) with Browser Link Authentication

For terminal-heavy workflows, CheapAI provides a dedicated global npm CLI package.

Unlike conventional workflows that require copying and pasting long API key strings into shell configuration files, the CLI incorporates a streamlined browser-based authentication flow.

# Install global CLI package
npm install -g @akitect/cheapai

# Launch CLI and approve login
cheapai

1. Global Package Installation: Install the CLI across your environment by running $ npm install -g @akitect/cheapai.
2. One-Click Browser Authorization: Running $ cheapai opens a browser window where approving the session automatically binds account credits to the active terminal without manual key copying.
3. Interactive Model Selection: Synchronized with the server's live model catalog, developers can inspect pricing and operational health in the terminal, selecting the appropriate model on the fly.

Unified Balance Architecture and Default vs. Pro Modes

CheapAI maintains a unified credit balance across web chat interactions, CLI commands, and external API requests.

Upon funding an account (for example, a $20 top-up grants 200.00000 credits), usage deducts against official USD list pricing according to two selectable operational modes per model:

• Default Mode: Charges approximately 10% of the official list price against account credits. This mode is optimal for standard queries, exploratory drafting, and cost-sensitive routine tasks.
• Pro Mode: Charges twice the rate of Default mode (approximately 20% of official list price). It prioritizes throughput and connection stability for demanding multi-turn agent loops and large codebase refactoring tasks.

Target Developers and Operational Caveats

CheapAI serves as a practical developer tool for software engineers and indie builders seeking to consolidate API keys, balances, and multi-model access across Cursor, Claude Code, and terminal workflows into one central gateway.

When integrating third-party proxy gateways into production systems, however, specific operational characteristics should be considered:

• Third-Party Gateway Nature: As a third-party intermediary proxy rather than a direct contract with upstream providers (such as Anthropic or OpenAI), availability and latency are subject to upstream traffic conditions and policy updates.
• Credit Policy: Account credit balances are strictly non-refundable in cash and cannot be transferred to third parties, making incremental top-ups the recommended funding approach.
• Security and Compliance: For workflows involving confidential enterprise codebases or sensitive client data, engineering teams should evaluate third-party proxy data retention policies against direct enterprise API channels before deployment.

Sources

• CheapAI Official API Documentation: CheapAI API | Same models, lower price
• cheapai.im Official X (@cheapai_im): September 26, 2026 CheapAI Announcement Post