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Router One

Claude API access, up to 90% off list price

Router One is an LLM API gateway that resells metered Claude API access at posted per-token rates — select Claude models go as low as 10% of official list prices (up to 90% off) — through the native /v1/messages endpoint (Claude Code works unchanged) and the OpenAI-compatible /v1/chat/completions, with a cost trace for every request and top-ups that need no US credit card. Every rate is posted per token on the /models page; same wire format, plus a ledger for every request.

Up to 90% off, verifiable

Select Claude models run as low as 10% of official list prices. The /models page is the live price sheet — every rate shown struck through against its base rate. How the posted rate is set — and how upstream price changes flow through within 24 hours — is documented in the pricing methodology (last updated 2026-08-22): https://router.one/pricing-methodology

Anthropic-native endpoint

Call /v1/messages in the native wire format (Claude Code connects directly), or use the OpenAI-compatible /v1/chat/completions — one key works for both.

Pay without a US card

Top up with a card or Alipay through one hosted checkout, or with USDT/USDC on six chains. Wallet balance never expires; subscription plans are live for heavy usage.

How the discount works

  1. 1Metered per token, prepaid walletYou pay the discounted per-token rate shown on the model page — no seats, no minimum commitment. Wallet balance is drawn down per request.
  2. 2The catalog is the price sheetEvery Claude model lists its current input and output rates on /models, struck through against the base rate, so you can verify the discount before calling.
  3. 3Documented methodologyHow Router One sources capacity and sets prices is written up on the pricing methodology page — no mystery meat.

First Claude call in 3 steps

Create a key, top up in your currency, and call /v1/messages — the native Anthropic wire format, reachable from Mainland China without a VPN.

  1. 1Create an API keySign up at router.one and create a key in the dashboard. Top up with a card or Alipay in one hosted checkout, or with USDT/USDC — no US credit card required.
  2. 2Point your client at the gatewayUse https://api.router.one/v1/messages for the Anthropic-native format (Claude Code works out of the box), or https://api.router.one/v1/chat/completions for OpenAI-compatible clients.
  3. 3Verify the cost traceOpen Dashboard → Logs after your first request to see model, tokens, latency, and the exact discounted cost per call.
claude-via-router-one.sh
# Native Anthropic wire format via Router One
curl -X POST https://api.router.one/v1/messages \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-router-one-key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model": "<claude-model-id>", "max_tokens": 1024,
       "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]}'

No low fixed cap for normal paid usage. Abuse prevention, per-account protection limits, and upstream constraints may still apply; if a request returns 429, check Dashboard -> Logs or contact support to raise limits.

FAQ

Why is it cheaper than list price?

Router One aggregates demand across many customers and routes over pooled, committed capacity, then passes the margin down as discounted per-token rates. The approach is documented on the pricing methodology page; the /models page always shows the current effective rate.

Is this the official Claude API?

Router One is an independent gateway, not Anthropic — requests are routed to language models operated by third-party providers, and the wire formats are identical (/v1/messages and OpenAI-compatible /v1/chat/completions). Model names and trademarks belong to their owners.

Does Claude Code work with it?

Claude Code works natively with Router One: Claude Code speaks /v1/messages, which Router One implements. Set ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL to the gateway and use your Router One key; the Claude Code China guide walks through it in two minutes.

Which Claude models are available?

The current lineup — Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku series — is listed on /models with live per-token pricing, context windows, and capabilities. Discount levels vary by model, so check the struck-through rates there.

How do I keep spend predictable?

Every request writes a cost trace — model, tokens, latency, status, and what it cost — to Dashboard → Logs, and each API key can carry its own spend cap and rate limit. A runaway loop stops at the key instead of showing up on the invoice.

Can I use it from Mainland China?

Yes. Based on the China latency benchmark last updated 2026-05-15, Router One measured 110-130ms p50 across Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen; individual networks may vary.

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