SCENARIO GUIDE

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.

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

    1. 01

      Choose the model & features

      Record the complete model ID, version, context, input types and required tool capabilities.

      Check official documentation →
    2. 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 →
    3. 03

      Test your app’s behavior

      Run small tests for streaming, timeouts, retries, rate limits, error formats and compatibility.

      Understand the test criteria →
    4. 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.