Conclusion
- No-card APIs are good for demos.
- Compatible baseURL keeps migration simple.
- Prototype keys must stay server-side.
- Production chatbots need fallback and spend logs.
What to do next
- Choose a provider that supports your region and SDK.
- Set baseURL, apiKey, and model server-side.
- Test normal chat, streaming, and longest real prompt.
- Check quota, limits, latency, JSON/tool calls, and data terms.
- Add OpenLLMAPI for one key, fallback, logs, and budgets.
Recommended paths
| Provider | Free / credits | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek | Verify current credits/pricing | Low-cost reasoning and coding |
| Qwen | Signup credits vary | China-friendly compatible setup |
| Zhipu GLM | Signup tokens vary | Domestic fallback |
| OpenLLMAPI | Trial varies | One endpoint with logs and fallback |
Global developer checklist
- Confirm whether signup, billing, and API keys work from your country before writing production code.
- Prefer OpenAI-compatible endpoints when you may need to switch models, regions, or providers later.
- Test free credits with a real smoke prompt and record latency, error shape, streaming behavior, and quota burn.
- Keep at least one fallback route for provider outages, model deprecations, and regional access changes.
Production handoff
Prototype free, launch with controlled routing
Keep your chatbot OpenAI-compatible while adding fallback, spend logs, and server-side key control.
FAQ
Can I launch on no-card API only?
Use it for demos, then switch to production billing, logs, and fallback.
What is best for China-facing chatbots?
Test Qwen, GLM, SiliconFlow, or DeepSeek-compatible routes.
What if Grok or Claude access is unavailable?
Benchmark legitimate alternatives and keep provider choice configurable.