Getting started
How relay APIs differ from official APIs
Relays bill by multiplier, and the saving usually costs you stability and data boundaries.
Point by point
- Billing model
- Official APIs bill per token; relays combine a top-up coefficient with model multipliers.
- Stability
- Relay availability depends on upstream quota and can throttle or stop without notice.
- Data boundary
- Requests pass through a third party, so sensitive data should not use a relay.
- Balance ownership
- Top-up balances are usually non-refundable and lost if the site shuts down.
Takeaway
Treat relays as a cost optimisation, not a home for critical or sensitive workloads.