The 30-second summary
+ What we liked
- Speed-optimized infrastructure
- Competitive pricing on popular models
- New user promotions
− What we didn't
- Track record still building
- Limited community presence
- Pricing may change frequently
In-depth review
FastCode’s GPT-4o input costs $2.50 per million tokens and Claude 3.5 Sonnet runs at $3.00 per million tokens — both slightly below OpenAI/Antipathy direct rates, but not by much. The real draw here isn’t the per-token discount; it’s the free trial. No recharge minimum, no credit card upfront. You get instant access to both models with zero CNY outlay, which is rare among Chinese relay stations.
Pricing Breakdown
| Model | Input (per 1M tokens) | Output (per 1M tokens) | Direct API Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-4o | $2.50 | $10.00 | ~$2.50/$10.00 direct (same) |
| Claude 3.5 Sonnet | $3.00 | $15.00 | $3.00/$15.00 direct (same) |
FastCode doesn’t mark up the models — it passes through at cost. The value proposition is purely about accessibility: you pay nothing upfront, you use 支付宝 or 微信支付 if you do recharge later, and you skip the VPN headache entirely. No batch discounts, no hidden fees. Pricing may change frequently (the platform warns about this), so lock in your usage while the free trial holds.
Speed and Uptime
94% uptime is average — you’ll see occasional blips, especially during peak hours in Asia. But the speed-optimized infrastructure is real: requests to GPT-4o resolve in under 1.2 seconds from Beijing during off-peak, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet stays under 2 seconds. That’s faster than routing through Hong Kong relays. The tradeoff? 100K max tokens per request. Fine for most chat and code tasks, but you’ll hit the ceiling on long document processing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free trial with no recharge minimum — test before you commit
- Speed-optimized routing for Asia-based developers
- Supports 支付宝 and 微信支付 natively
Cons
- Only two models available — no Gemini, DeepSeek, or open-source fallbacks
- 94% uptime means ~4 hours of downtime per week
- Pricing may change frequently; no long-term rate lock
Verdict
FastCode is a good entry point if you’re new to relay stations and want to test GPT-4o or Claude 3.5 Sonnet without wiring up a VPN or committing to a recharge. The free trial is honest — no hidden fees, no forced top-up. But the two-model limit and 94% uptime make it a poor choice for production workloads. Use it for prototyping, personal projects, or as a backup relay when your primary provider is down. If you need broader model selection or higher reliability, look elsewhere.
FAQ
Q: Can I use FastCode without recharging at all? A: Yes. The free trial gives you immediate access to GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet with no payment required. There’s no minimum recharge and no credit card needed.
Q: Does FastCode offer any batch or volume discounts? A: No. The per-token rates are the same as direct API pricing, and there are no batch discounts or tiered pricing plans. What you see is what you pay.
Q: What happens if FastCode changes its pricing mid-month? A: The platform warns that pricing may change frequently. There’s no rate lock or contract. If you’re in the middle of a project, check the current rates before scaling up usage.
Pricing breakdown
FastCode offers competitive pricing for developers. Here's the breakdown:
| Plan | Price | Quota | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | Free trial | Kicking the tires |
| Standard RECOMMENDED | Pay-as-you-go/mo | Unlimited usage | Solo devs · small teams |
| Enterprise | Custom | SLA · dedicated support | Teams & agencies |
Supported models
2 models across major vendors.
Frequently asked questions
Can I access this platform from China without a VPN?
Most relay stations are accessible from Chinese ISPs. Check our review for specific routing details.
What payment methods are accepted?
Payment options vary by platform. Some accept Alipay/WeChat Pay, others are USD/crypto only.
How does this compare to using OpenAI directly?
Relay stations add routing latency but provide access from restricted regions, unified billing, and multi-model fallback.
Is my API key safe?
Keys are encrypted at rest. Most platforms support per-project scoping and IP allow-lists.
Should you use FastCode?
Speed-sensitive users willing to test new options