Claude API vs Anthropic Direct — Save 91% (11×) with LLMsRelay (2026)
LLMsRelay vs Anthropic Direct: identical models and APIs, but per-token pricing 91% lower. Sonnet $2.10/$10.50, Opus $3.50/$17.50, Haiku $0.70/$3.50 per 1M tokens. Card & crypto.
Overview
Both LLMsRelay and Anthropic's direct API give you access to the same Claude models. The difference lies in billing, setup, and additional features. This guide helps you decide which option fits your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Anthropic Direct | LLMsRelay |
|---|---|---|
| Models available | All Claude models | All Claude models |
| API compatibility | Native | 100% compatible (same format) |
| Signup process | Manual approval | Instant |
| Payment methods | Credit card | Credit card & Crypto |
| Per-key credit limits | Not available | ✓ Built-in |
| Usage dashboard | Basic | Detailed per-key breakdown |
| IDE integration | Manual setup | Pre-configured guides |
| OpenAI-compatible endpoint | No | ✓ Drop-in replacement |
| Billing model | Post-pay invoicing | Pre-paid credits |
Pricing Comparison
LLMsRelay is 91% cheaper than Anthropic's official rates — 11× the usage for the same spend. Same models, same APIs.
| Model | Anthropic Input/Output | LLMsRelay Input/Output | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Opus 4.7 | $5 / $25 | $3.50 / $17.50 | −91% |
| Claude Sonnet 4.6 | $3 / $15 | $2.10 / $10.50 | −91% |
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | $1 / $5 | $0.70 / $3.50 | −91% |
All rates per 1M tokens. Cache write = 1.25× input, cache read = 0.10× input.
See the full rate table on the Pricing page.
When to Use LLMsRelay
- Instant access or approval process
- Flexible payments — pay with credit card or crypto
- Per-key limits — control spending across teams and projects
- IDE users — pre-built integration guides for Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code
- OpenAI migration — use the OpenAI-compatible endpoint for drop-in replacement
When to Use Anthropic Direct
- You need post-pay invoicing for enterprise accounting
- You require Anthropic's enterprise SLAs
- You want to use Anthropic-specific features immediately on release
Can I Switch?
Yes. Because LLMsRelay uses the same API format as Anthropic, switching between them requires only changing the base URL and API key. No code changes needed.