The 30-second summary
+ What we liked
- Lowest price for Codex among all relays
- GPT-5.5 at ¥1(进)6(出)/1M tokens — excellent value
- Minimal top-up requirement: ¥1+
- Fast API response, well-documented
− What we didn't
- Claude groups may occasionally mix channels
- No refund policy on some plans
- Limited to coding-focused models
In-depth review
RightCode undercuts OpenRouter by 60% on Codex pricing — ¥1 per million input tokens versus OpenRouter’s ¥2.5 — and requires zero upfront deposit.
The Head-to-Head: RightCode vs OpenRouter
Both relay tokens to Chinese developers without VPN, but they serve different developer profiles. RightCode is built for cost-sensitive coders who live inside Claude Code or OpenAI Codex. OpenRouter is a generalist hub with 200+ models and a free $1 credit.
RightCode’s model list is short: Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Claude 3.5 Sonnet. That’s it. No Gemini, no DeepSeek, no image models. If you need anything outside coding agents, OpenRouter wins by default. If you only need Codex or Claude Code, RightCode’s pricing is brutal.
| Feature | RightCode | OpenRouter |
|---|---|---|
| Codex 1M input tokens | ¥1 | ~¥2.5 |
| Claude 3.5 Sonnet 1M tokens | ~¥6 (out) | ~¥9 (out) |
| Free tier | Yes (trial only) | $1 credit |
| Min recharge | ¥1 | $5 |
| Payment methods | 支付宝, 微信支付 | Credit card, crypto |
| Refund policy | Not specified | 7-day on unused balance |
| Uptime (reported) | 96% | 99.5%+ |
| Models available | 3 | 200+ |
RightCode’s reported 96% uptime is below OpenRouter’s 99.5%+. That 3.5% gap means more retry logic in production. For hobby scripts or personal use, fine. For customer-facing apps, think twice.
API Compatibility
Both platforms expose an OpenAI-compatible API. RightCode’s docs are “well-documented” per the platform data, but OpenRouter has years of community examples, SDKs, and a status page. RightCode’s safety rating of 3/5 suggests less oversight on model outputs — expect raw responses with minimal guardrails.
Payment and Access
RightCode supports 支付宝 and 微信支付 directly. No credit card needed. OpenRouter requires a foreign credit card or crypto. For Chinese developers without international payment methods, RightCode is frictionless. Minimum recharge is ¥1 — OpenRouter demands $5.
Claude Groups Channel Mixing
The platform data flags that Claude groups “may occasionally mix channels.” This means your request might hit a different Claude backend than expected. If you need consistent model behavior (e.g., Claude Code vs Claude 3.5 Sonnet), this is a risk. OpenRouter routes to specific model IDs with less ambiguity.
Verdict
RightCode is the budget king for coding models — ¥1 Codex is unmatched. But you trade model variety, uptime, and refund clarity. Use RightCode for personal coding assistants and low-stakes automation. Pick OpenRouter when you need reliability, model breadth, or production-grade uptime.
FAQ
Q: Can I use RightCode for non-coding models like GPT-4o or Gemini? A: No. RightCode only supports Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, and Claude 3.5 Sonnet. No general-purpose chat models.
Q: Does RightCode require a minimum recharge? A: The platform data states “Min recharge (CNY): Not specified,” but the Pros list “Minimal top-up requirement: ¥1+”. You can start with as little as ¥1.
Q: How does RightCode handle refunds compared to OpenRouter? A: RightCode’s refund policy is “Not specified.” OpenRouter offers a 7-day refund on unused balance. If you’re risk-averse, OpenRouter has clearer consumer protection.
Q: Is RightCode’s API OpenAI-compatible? A: Yes. Both RightCode and OpenRouter expose endpoints that accept OpenAI-style requests. You can swap the base URL and API key.
Q: What happens if RightCode’s uptime drops below 96%? A: There’s no SLA published. OpenRouter offers a status page and higher historical uptime. For critical workloads, monitor uptime yourself or add a fallback relay.
Pricing breakdown
RightCode 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
3 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 RightCode?
Budget-conscious developers, Codex users