The 30-second summary
+ What we liked
- Competitive pricing in Chinese developer community
- Local payment methods
- Active in WeChat groups
− What we didn't
- Limited English documentation
- Smaller community than top competitors
- Uncertain long-term roadmap
In-depth review
GPT-4o input costs $0 per million tokens on 米醋AI’s free tier — but that’s only because the entire service is currently free. There are no published per-token rates, no minimum recharge amount, and no batch discounts. The platform operates on a trial basis with zero upfront cost.
Free Tier Reality
米醋AI offers full access to GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet without charging a cent. The free trial is active, and there’s no mention of usage caps or token limits beyond the 100,000 max token context window. This is unusual for any relay station — most competitors cap free tiers at $1–$5 credit or throttle to slower models.
The catch: uptime sits at 94.0%, which means roughly 22 hours of downtime per month. For a free service, that’s tolerable. For production workloads, it’s a non-starter.
Pricing Comparison vs Direct API
| Service | GPT-4o Input (per 1M tokens) | Claude 3.5 Sonnet Input (per 1M tokens) | Free Tier | Payment Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 米醋AI (current) | $0 (free) | $0 (free) | Yes, full access | 支付宝, 微信支付 |
| OpenAI Direct | $2.50 | N/A | $5 credit | International cards |
| Anthropic Direct | N/A | $3.00 | None | International cards |
| Typical relay station | $2.00–$3.00 | $2.50–$3.50 | $1–$5 credit | Alipay + cards |
The table shows 米醋AI’s current pricing is unsustainable — they’re eating the API costs entirely. Compare this to direct API pricing: GPT-4o at $2.50/M input tokens and Claude 3.5 Sonnet at $3.00/M input tokens. Even relay stations that offer Chinese payment methods typically charge $2–$3.50 per million tokens.
Hidden fees: None documented. No recharge minimum, no withdrawal fees, no inactivity charges. The refund policy is not specified, which is a red flag if you’re considering paying later.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free access to GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet
- 支付宝 and 微信支付 ready for when they launch paid tiers
- Active WeChat community for support and updates
Cons
- Only 94% uptime — expect ~2 days of downtime monthly
- No published roadmap or long-term viability
- English documentation is limited; you’ll need Chinese language support
- Small community compared to OpenRouter or API2D
Verdict
米醋AI is a free trial, not a production service. If you’re a Chinese developer who wants to test GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet without paying a cent, sign up now — it won’t stay free forever. The 94% uptime and missing refund policy make it unsuitable for anything beyond experimentation. Once they introduce pricing, expect rates similar to other relay stations ($2–$3.50/M tokens). The real value here is the local payment methods and WeChat community, not the pricing model.
Bottom line: Use it while it’s free, but don’t build on it.
FAQ
Q: Is 米醋AI really free with no token limits? A: Yes, currently. The free trial is active and there are no published token caps. The only documented limit is a 100,000 max token context window per request.
Q: Can I use 米醋AI for production workloads? A: Not recommended. With 94% uptime and no refund policy, you risk ~22 hours of downtime per month. This is a trial service, not a production relay.
Q: What happens when the free trial ends? A: No pricing has been announced. Based on the Chinese relay station market, expect GPT-4o at $2–$3/M input tokens and Claude 3.5 Sonnet at $2.50–$3.50/M input tokens, payable via 支付宝 or 微信支付.
Q: How does 米醋AI compare to direct OpenAI or Anthropic API access? A: Direct API costs $2.50/M for GPT-4o input and $3.00/M for Claude 3.5 Sonnet input, but requires international payment methods. 米醋AI is currently free and accepts Chinese payments, but has lower reliability.
Q: Does 米醋AI support GPT-4 Turbo or other models? A: No. The only models listed are GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Do not expect access to other models unless explicitly added.
Pricing breakdown
米醋AI 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 米醋AI?
Chinese-speaking developers