Conclusion
- Best China-friendly agent route: Qwen compatible mode.
- Best cost-first route: DeepSeek with strict loop and token limits.
- Best speed test route: Groq for low-latency open models.
- Best production route: one OpenAI-compatible abstraction with cheap primary, tool-specific config checks, and premium fallback.
What to do next
- Confirm your tool supports custom OpenAI-compatible base_url, model names, streaming, and whether it silently rewrites provider settings.
- Create provider keys for Qwen, DeepSeek, Groq, GLM, or a relay; store them server-side or in the tool secret store.
- Run read-only tasks first: explain code, summarize errors, draft a diff, or write tests without applying changes.
- Enable write actions only with git diff review, command allowlists, max iterations, and budget alerts.
- Promote the provider that wins on accepted patch rate, not just cheapest token price.
Recommended paths
| Provider | Free / credits | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Qwen | 70M signup tokens | Cursor/custom-agent coding in China-friendly stacks |
| DeepSeek | $5 signup / current credit | Cheap coding-agent loops and repo automation |
| Zhipu GLM | 5M signup tokens | Low-friction GLM tests in China |
| Groq | Developer limits vary | Fast open-model completions |
| OpenLLMAPI | Signup credit varies | One key with Qwen/DeepSeek plus GPT/Claude/Gemini 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
Want one endpoint for Cursor, OpenClaw, and custom agents?
Keep the OpenAI client shape and route between Qwen, DeepSeek, Claude, GPT, Gemini, and Groq-like fast models based on cost and failure rules.
FAQ
Can Cursor use a custom OpenAI-compatible API?
For tools that expose base URL, key, and model settings, yes. Check the current tool UI/docs because support varies by version and plan.
Which provider is cheapest for coding agents?
DeepSeek is usually the first cost baseline, but Qwen can win on China/coding/long-context tasks. Measure cost per accepted patch.
Why do coding agents need fallback?
Agents can get stuck in loops, fail tool calls, or produce failing patches. A stronger fallback can be cheaper than repeated cheap failures.
What should I test before giving write access?
Streaming, tool calls if used, patch quality, shell command behavior, rate limits, and how the tool handles provider errors.