Claude API top-up · credit conversion · subscription comparison
Claude API top-up without a foreign card
No Anthropic API key and no international credit card? Create a CodeGateway key, point your Anthropic client base_url at our compatible endpoint, and top up with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Pay per token, and the balance never expires.
Alipay / WeChat Pay · No foreign card · From $10 · Balance never expires
The short answer
- If you want Claude for coding without tying an official subscription or the official API to a foreign card, top up a CodeGateway balance and use the Anthropic Messages-compatible endpoint.
- Anthropic subscriptions (Pro / Max) are monthly plans for claude.ai and Claude Code chat; they do not include a general-purpose API key. The official API is token-billed and needs an Anthropic Console account plus an international card.
- CodeGateway is pay-as-you-go: official base rate × live markup, plus a 2% top-up service fee. The balance never expires and you pay only for what you use.
Claude vs OpenAI: subscription, official API and CodeGateway
If you are comparing a Claude subscription with an OpenAI one, start with the three ways to buy capacity below. Official subscription prices are reference prices (check the vendors’ own pages); CodeGateway pricing follows the live rate table.
| Option | Price | Billing model | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropic Claude Pro | $20 / month (official reference) | Monthly subscription, quota resets on the official window; no general API key | Chat-only use in claude.ai / Claude Code |
| OpenAI ChatGPT Plus | $20 / month (official reference) | Monthly subscription for the ChatGPT app; no general API key | Chat-only use in ChatGPT |
| Anthropic Claude Max | $100 or $200 / month (official reference) | Monthly subscription with a higher quota; no general API key | Heavy chat users |
| Official Anthropic API | Per token (official rates below) | Prepaid balance; requires a Console account and an international card | Users with a foreign card who want a direct official connection |
| CodeGateway pay-as-you-go | From $10 face value, plus a 2% service fee | Per-token billing, balance never expires; Alipay / WeChat Pay / card at Stripe checkout | No foreign card, no official key, or one gateway for multiple models |
Official subscription and API prices follow the Anthropic and OpenAI official pages; this table is a reference, not a quote. anthropic.com/pricing · openai.com/api/pricing
Official Claude rates vs effective CodeGateway rates (live)
Official rates come from the live model catalog. Effective CodeGateway rate = official rate × 1.07x. Example model used for the credit conversion: claude-sonnet-5-5.
| Model | Official input /MTok | Official output /MTok | Effective input /MTok | Effective output /MTok | Cache read /MTok |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| claude-haiku-5-5claude-haiku-5-5 | $0.10 | $0.50 | $0.11 | $0.54 | $0.01 |
| claude-sonnet-5-5claude-sonnet-5-5 | $2.00 | $10.00 | $2.14 | $10.70 | $0.11 |
| claude-opus-5-5claude-opus-5-5 | $4.00 | $20.00 | $4.28 | $21.40 | $0.21 |
| claude-fable-5-1claude-fable-5-1 | $10.00 | $50.00 | $10.70 | $53.50 | $0.27 |
| claude-opus-5claude-opus-5 | $5.00 | $25.00 | $5.35 | $26.75 | $0.54 |
| claude-fable-5claude-fable-5 | $10.00 | $50.00 | $10.70 | $53.50 | $1.07 |
USD per 1,000,000 tokens. Cache write and cache read are billed separately; actual charges use the usage returned by /v1/messages at $10⁻¹⁰ precision. See every model and the live markup on /pricing
How many tokens does a top-up buy?
Using claude-sonnet-5-5 at a 1.07x markup. Input and output are priced separately, so the usable token count depends on your request mix.
| Top-up face value | ≈ input tokens | ≈ output tokens |
|---|---|---|
| $10 | ≈ 4.67M | ≈ 0.93M |
| $20 | ≈ 9.35M | ≈ 1.87M |
| $50 | ≈ 23.4M | ≈ 4.67M |
| $100 | ≈ 46.7M | ≈ 9.35M |
The table converts the full face value. The 2% top-up service fee and Stripe processing fee are charged on top and do not reduce the credited balance. The balance never expires.
Billing rules
- Token-based billing: input, output, cache write and cache read are priced separately per 1,000,000 tokens.
- Markup: live multiplier on the official base rate, locked at top-up time; currently a flat multiplier.
- Top-up: the full face value is credited, plus a 2% platform service fee; Stripe processing fees are itemized at checkout.
- Balance: never expires and is never cleared; charged per request to $10⁻¹⁰ precision.
- Invoices and refunds: invoices are available in the workspace billing page; see the refund policy for refund rules.
FAQ
Can I use Claude without an official Anthropic API key?
Yes. After registering with CodeGateway, create an API key in the workspace and point the base_url of your Anthropic client at the CodeGateway /v1/messages compatible endpoint, using the CodeGateway key instead of the official key. No Anthropic account or foreign card is required.
How is a top-up converted into tokens?
The balance is charged per token; input, output and cache reads/writes are priced separately per the table on this page, in units of 1,000,000 tokens. The conversion table above is an estimate; actual charges follow the token usage of each request, and the balance never expires.
How do I top up with Alipay or WeChat Pay?
After registering, open the workspace Billing / Top-up page, choose an amount, and select Alipay or WeChat Pay on the Stripe checkout page. The channels actually offered are those displayed at checkout; no foreign card is needed.
Which models are supported?
All Claude text models (Opus / Sonnet / Haiku), plus GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, GLM and more; the live catalog is on the /models page. Claude uses the Anthropic Messages-compatible endpoint and the other models use the OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
What fees apply, and can I get a refund?
A 2% platform service fee applies on top of the top-up face value, plus Stripe processing fees; service and processing fees are non-refundable. Balance refund rules are in the Refund Policy, and invoices are available in the workspace billing page.
Configuration and integration guides
Once you have a key, pick the setup for your client. The technical conclusions in these posts are unchanged.
Get Claude credits now, without a foreign card
Register → create an API key → top up → point base_url at CodeGateway. No Anthropic account or international credit card required.
Create a free account and top up