How pricing works: official price × 1.3
This article explains the transparent pricing model of an LLM API aggregator: users pay the official model price multiplied by 1.3, while key contributors receive credits at official price multiplied by 1.1 (or 1.2 for premium keys). It clarifies the two sides of a self-use call and how contributors can offset costs.
Understanding the pricing model
When you use an LLM API aggregator, you pay for each call based on a simple formula: the official price of the model multiplied by 1.3. This applies uniformly across all supported models, whether you're using Claude, GPT, DeepSeek, Qwen, GLM, Kimi, or others. There are no hidden fees or subscription costs—you only pay for what you use.
Why the multiplier exists
The 1.3 multiplier covers the operational costs of the aggregator: maintaining infrastructure, handling payments, providing a unified API, and managing multiple model integrations. It's a transparent markup that keeps the service running without requiring KYC or complex billing setups. You top up with USDC on Base, and your balance is consumed as you make API calls.
How contributors earn credits
If you contribute a key to the aggregator's pool, you earn credits when others use it. For each call made with your key, you are credited at official price × 1.1 (or × 1.2 for premium keys). These credits are added to your USDC balance, which you can use for your own API calls or withdraw.
The two sides of a self-use call
When you use your own contributed key to make a call, two things happen simultaneously:
- You pay the official price × 1.3 from your balance.
- You earn official price × 1.1 (or × 1.2) as a credit for providing the key.
The net effect is that your effective cost per call is reduced, but it does not drop to a tiny fraction of the official price. The exact net depends on the multiplier for your key type and the model used. This system incentivizes sharing idle capacity while ensuring the aggregator remains sustainable.
Key takeaways
- Users pay official price × 1.3 for all API calls.
- Contributors earn official price × 1.1 (standard) or × 1.2 (premium) per call using their key.
- Self-use calls combine both sides, lowering net cost but not to extreme lows.
- All transactions are in USDC on Base, with no KYC required.
- The model is transparent and applies to all supported models.