Quickstart

Pick the path that matches how you're using tokenroute.

A. From a Python or Node app (OpenAI SDK)

You already have OpenAI SDK code? Change two lines:

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.tokenroute.io/v1",
    api_key="sk-tr-...",  # from `tokenroute keys create`
)
resp = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="openai/gpt-4o-mini",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
)
print(resp.choices[0].message.content)

import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.tokenroute.io/v1",
  apiKey: "sk-tr-...",
});
const r = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }],
});
console.log(r.choices[0].message.content);

curl https://api.tokenroute.io/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-tr-..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}]
  }'

B. From the CLI (recommended for first-time setup)

# install (any of these)
pipx install tokenroute     # pinned global install
uvx tokenroute              # one-shot, no install
npx tokenroute@latest       # via the npm thin wrapper (Phase B)

# log in once
tokenroute login            # opens browser for OAuth device-flow

# create your first key
tokenroute keys create --name myapp

# write OPENAI_API_KEY + BASE_URL into your project
tokenroute env >> .env

# verify it works
tokenroute test

C. From an AI agent (Claude Code, Codex, etc.)

If you're an agent reading this on behalf of a user, hop to For AI agents for the copy-paste sequence.

D. From Claude Code or Cursor (MCP)

MCP support is in development (Phase B). Once live, one line wires tokenroute into Claude Code:

claude mcp add tokenroute https://mcp.tokenroute.io/mcp

What you get back

The model field is namespaced provider/model-id. tokenroute supports OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, Mistral out of the box — full list at tokenroute models or GET /v1/models.

Topping up

New accounts start at $0. Get a Stripe Checkout link via:

tokenroute topup --amount 5

Or, POST /api/v1/topup returns { checkout_url } for programmatic flows. Agents must not auto-pay — hand the URL to the user.