From the zcloud blog
Insights on AI APIs & pricing.
Honest breakdowns of LLM API pricing, OpenAI alternatives, and crypto/QRIS payments — from the team behind zcloud's reseller gateway.
Published September 7, 2026
Free LLM API in 2026: Truly Free Tiers vs Ultra-Cheap Plans
Most “free” LLM APIs are free trials in disguise. Here is what is actually free in 2026, what you will pay for anyway, and when an ultra-cheap plan beats a free tier.
Published September 7, 2026
LLM API Pricing Comparison 2026: GPT vs Claude vs Gemini
GPT, Claude and Gemini benchmark near each other, but their per-token prices vary widely. Here is how they compare and where reseller pricing changes the math.
Published September 7, 2026
Best OpenAI API Alternatives in 2026: Cheaper & Compatible
You do not have to pay OpenAI list prices to run GPT-class models. These OpenAI-compatible alternatives drop the cost while keeping your existing code working.
Published September 7, 2026
OpenRouter vs OpenAI API: Which Should You Use in 2026?
OpenRouter gives you many models behind one key; OpenAI gives you the reference API. Here is the honest trade-off, including where reseller pricing wins.
Published September 7, 2026
Buy AI API Credits with USDC & USDT
Crypto is the fastest way to fund an AI API account without a card. Here is how USDC and USDT deposits work end to end, and what to watch for.
Published September 7, 2026
Cheapest GPT-5, Claude & Gemini API in 2026 (Compared)
Official GPT-5, Claude and Gemini list prices are steep. A reseller gateway drops all three to roughly 5% of official — here are the real numbers and how to get them behind one key.
Published September 7, 2026
OpenAI-Compatible API Key for Cursor, Claude Code & Cline
You do not need a different key and billing account for every coding agent. Point Cursor, Claude Code and Cline at one OpenAI-compatible endpoint and pay once, at a fraction of list price.
Published September 7, 2026
Best LLM API for Coding Agents in 2026
Coding agents are only as good as the API behind them. Here is the 2026 ranking of the best LLM APIs for Cursor, Claude Code and Cline — on price, compatibility and reliability.
Published October 15, 2026
OpenAI-Compatible API Migration Checklist
Switching to an OpenAI-compatible provider is mostly configuration — base URL, key and model name. This checklist covers the parts that actually break.
Published October 15, 2026
How to Estimate LLM API Cost (With Formulas)
Per-token prices are easy to read and easy to misjudge. Turn your real traffic into a monthly estimate, and see when a prepaid token plan beats pay-as-you-go.