Choosing an AI relay starts with your own workload. Price matters, but reliability, model coverage and transparent billing determine the day-to-day experience.
Start with the models you need
List your usual models and any requirements for streaming, tool calls or long context. A model name on a website does not prove every feature works. Test your ordinary requests with a small balance first.
Compare the same workload
Input and output tokens are often billed separately. Hold the model and request sizes constant, then account for caching, minimum deposits and refund terms. A headline discount can hide the actual cost.
Look for sustained evidence
Success rate and latency across different hours tell you more than one successful call. A 100% figure from a tiny sample says little about peak-hour reliability. Separate model failures from rate limits and account balance errors.
Keep an exit path
Deposit a small amount first and avoid depending on one provider. Record endpoint URLs, model mappings and actual charges, and review them regularly.