Choosing an API for your app
Review model versions, API features, pricing and service behavior in one practical checklist.
Define the capabilities your app needs
Chat, structured output, tool use and multimodal input have different API requirements. Confirm the features first, then compare suitable providers. Verify published prices and actual availability separately.
Start with the official API
Use the model developer’s documentation to establish the model identity, API behavior and pricing as a reference you can revisit.
- OpenAI APIUse OpenAI’s documentation to check GPT capabilities and API requirements.
- Claude API(Anthropic)Explore Claude’s official API and check access requirements for each model.
- Gemini API(Google AI Studio)Try Gemini in AI Studio, then follow the API documentation to connect your app.
These endpoints have not been tested by BuYaoAI for speed or availability. A listing is not a service guarantee.
Compare other access options
Check cloud platforms, aggregators and relays for model identity, API differences and billing conditions.
Compare each provider using the exact model, API and billing conditions. Check the product documentation for compatibility.
Work through the checklist
- 01
Choose the model & features
Record the complete model ID, version, context, input types and required tool capabilities.
Check official documentation → - 02
Align pricing conditions
Separate input, output and cache costs. Match the currency and unit, and retain the price reference and observation date.
Compare service information side by side → - 03
Test your app’s behavior
Run small tests for streaming, timeouts, retries, rate limits, error formats and compatibility.
Understand the test criteria → - 04
Monitor service behavior
Gather enough samples under matching conditions before comparing time to first token, generation speed and request success rates.
View rankings & evidence →
These guides offer a selection checklist and example listings, not a tested recommendation order. Promotions are labeled separately.