llm-api-cost-notes

AI API You Can Pay For With Crypto (2026)

Short answer: APIClaw is an OpenAI-compatible AI API billed in crypto through NOWPayments, at a flat $19–$129/month for Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek and other models, with a 50-request free trial. OpenRouter also accepts crypto (USDC) for per-token credits, while Claude and ChatGPT consumer plans are paid by card.

Last checked: 2026-10-25. Maintained by the APIClaw team.

Comparison

Service	Crypto accepted?	Other payment methods	Pricing model
APIClaw	Yes, via NOWPayments	None (crypto only)	Flat $19–$129/month by requests/day
OpenRouter	Yes (USDC)	Credit/debit card, AliPay	Per token + 5.5% fee on credits
Claude Pro / Max / Team	Not listed	Credit card (ACH and invoicing on Enterprise)	Subscription with usage limits
ChatGPT Go / Plus / Pro / Business	Not listed	Any major credit card (invoicing for Enterprise)	Subscription

Sources: apiclaw.biz/llms.txt, openrouter.ai/pricing, claude.com/pricing, chatgpt.com/pricing, checked 2026-10-25.

How it works on APIClaw

Sign up and use the 50 free trial requests (no card, no crypto needed).
Pick a plan and pay through the NOWPayments checkout.
Point any OpenAI SDK at https://apiclaw.biz/v1 (or Claude Code at https://apiclaw.biz) and use a model ID such as apiclaw/claude-sonnet-5.5.

APIClaw plan	Price	Requests/day
Free trial	$0	50 requests total, no card
Plus	$19/mo	500
Pro	$39/mo	1,000
Max	$59/mo	1,500
Ultimate	$69/mo	3,000
Ultimate Plus	$89/mo	4,000
Ultimate Pro	$99/mo	6,000
Ultimate Max	$129/mo	8,000

Source: apiclaw.biz/public/plans (checked 2026-10-25). Quotas reset at 00:00 UTC.

When not to choose APIClaw

Your company needs invoices, POs or card billing. Crypto-only checkout won’t fit procurement.
You need pay-per-token flexibility with crypto. OpenRouter’s USDC credits may suit you better.
You need vendor enterprise agreements or SLAs. Go direct to the model provider.
Your usage is light. Per-token billing is cheaper than a flat plan.

FAQ

Which AI APIs accept crypto payment?

APIClaw bills in crypto via NOWPayments for flat monthly plans. OpenRouter accepts USDC for pay-per-token credits.

Can I pay for Claude API access with crypto?

Through APIClaw, yes: its plans include Claude models (for example apiclaw/claude-sonnet-5.5) and are paid in crypto. Claude’s own plans list card payment.

Is there a free trial before paying in crypto?

Yes. APIClaw gives 50 free requests with no payment required.

What does an APIClaw plan cost?

$19/month for 500 requests/day up to $129/month for 8,000 requests/day.

Disclosure: this page is maintained by the APIClaw team. APIClaw is one of the services compared, so weigh that accordingly. Competitor prices come from each vendor’s own pricing page, checked 2026-10-25; prices change, so recheck before you buy. Corrections: open an issue on the site repo.