How to Compare AI Relay Routes and Channel Groups
Understand official, direct, Max or Pro pool, Claude Code, Codex, cloud, Kiro, reverse, and per-request AI relay routes before comparing prices.
Classify before comparing
The same model label can hide different upstreams, client restrictions, protocols, and concurrency policies.
Choosing a route
For reliability and broad compatibility, start with official, direct, or cloud routes. Test lower-cost routes with a small balance first.
Claims are not proof
Provider group names are self-reported. We track pricing, API calls, model identity, and billing reconciliation as separate evidence.
Route types: what actually changes
| Route | Best for | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Official / direct | General SDKs, tools, long context | Usually broader compatibility; verify the provider's upstream claim and published multiplier. |
| Max / Pro account pool | Claude Code or Codex workloads | Shared subscription capacity can be cheaper, but concurrency, quota, and account rotation vary. |
| Client-specific | A designated CLI or IDE | A successful Claude Code or Codex request does not prove generic API compatibility. |
| Vertex / Bedrock | Enterprise and regional requirements | Cloud-hosted model versions, caching, tools, and context limits may differ from first-party APIs. |
| Kiro / IDE quota | Low-cost coding trials | Policy and quota can change; test with a small balance and the intended client. |
| Reverse / web | Price-sensitive, fault-tolerant tasks | Streaming, tools, context, privacy, and model consistency require separate checks. |
| Per request | Short tasks with predictable output | A flat request price cannot be compared directly with a per-token rate without a fixed workload. |
Provider group names are self-reported labels, not proof of the upstream. A fair comparison fixes the exact model, route class, client, protocol, and billing unit before comparing price or latency.
Frequently asked questions
What does an AI relay channel group name mean?
It is a provider-defined routing and billing label, not an industry standard or independent proof of the upstream. Record the exact group used by the test key before comparing prices or request results.
What is the difference between a discounted group and an official or direct group?
A discounted group may use a pool, reverse route, special quota, cache rule, or client restriction. An official or direct label is still a provider claim. Compare only routes with matching upstream claims, protocols, and limits.
Can a Claude Code or Codex group be used as a general API?
Not necessarily. Client-specific groups may support only Claude Code, Codex, the Responses API, or another designated protocol. Test the exact client and generation endpoint you intend to use.
How should prices across relay groups be compared?
Fix the model, route class, client, protocol, input and output billing unit, cache rule, and subscription assumptions. Published rates remain separate from observed billing until a same-route reconciliation is complete.
Same-model price and paid API evidence
Six provider profiles: compare input and output rates for the same model, then inspect the actual request outcomes. Live rankings and subscription estimates may differ from this build-time snapshot.
Claude Opus 5 · premium routes
| Provider | Price group | Input / 1M | Output / 1M | Source date | API passed / total | Latest test | P50 total | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LinksAPI | Dedicated CC Max | ¥3.4 | ¥17 | 2026-09-25 | 4 / 4 | 2026-09-29 | 3.48 s | Users prioritizing a provider-labeled premium route |
| H API | Claude Max | ¥6.4 | ¥32 | 2026-09-25 | 3 / 3 | 2026-09-25 | 6.72 s | Claude Code or VS Code users who accept a client-only route |
| UU API | CC full-capability MAX - CC client only | ¥6.8 | ¥34 | 2026-09-25 | 1 / 3 | 2026-09-25 | 3.61 s | Claude Code or VS Code users who accept a client-only route |
| APINebula | Claude Code global protected route | ¥6.8 | ¥34 | 2026-09-25 | 3 / 4 | 2026-09-29 | 2.73 s | Claude Code or VS Code users who accept a client-only route |
| boxying | Claude official route | ¥8 | ¥40 | 2026-09-25 | 2 / 11 | 2026-09-25 | 2.66 s | Users prioritizing a provider-labeled premium route |
| OpenOx | direct | ¥19.2 | ¥96 | 2026-09-24 | 3 / 3 | 2026-09-27 | 3.81 s | Users prioritizing a provider-labeled premium route |
Prices are provider-published pay-as-you-go rates, not subscription equivalents or reconciled charges. API samples cover the named model, but the test key's actual upstream group is not consistently recorded and may differ from the quoted group. P50 is successful end-to-end response time, not time to first token. A completed call does not prove model identity.