API Documentation

Get started with CheapAPI in 3 minutes.

Quick Start

1. Get your API key

After subscribing, your API key is sent to your email. It looks like: sk-th-xxxxxxxxxxxx

2. Install OpenAI SDK

pip install openai

3. Make your first request

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
  base_url="https://api.cheap-api.io/v1",
  api_key="sk-th-your-key-here",
)

response = client.chat.completions.create({
  "model": "deepseek-chat",
  "messages": [{
    "role": "user",
    "content": "Hello, world!",
  }],
})

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

Available Models

Model ID	Provider	Best For
deepseek-chat	DeepSeek-V3	General purpose, coding
deepseek-reasoner	DeepSeek-R1	Math, logic, reasoning
qwen-max	Alibaba Qwen-Max	Multilingual, enterprise
qwen-plus	Alibaba Qwen-Plus	Balanced perf/cost
glm-4	Zhipu GLM-4	Cheapest, good quality
glm-4-flash	Zhipu GLM-4 Flash	Lightweight tasks

API Endpoints

POST/v1/chat/completionsChat completions (OpenAI-compatible)

GET/v1/modelsList available models

GET/healthHealth check

Rate Limits & Errors

HTTP Code	Meaning
200	Success
401	Invalid or missing API key
429	Monthly quota exceeded or rate limit hit — upgrade your plan
503	Upstream model temporarily unavailable, retry in 5s