Guide · Open source
How to use GPT_API_free: get a free API key and call models
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
GPT_API_free is a README for chatanywhere, a third-party relay service that forwards calls to large language models such as GPT and DeepSeek through one OpenAI-style interface. It is a service, not software you install on your machine. This guide explains how to get a free key, where to send requests, and which limits and rules apply, so you can run small non-commercial experiments.
GPT_API_freechatanywhere/GPT_API_free · ★ 45.3k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Read the rules. Confirm your use is personal, non-commercial, educational or nonprofit research before you start.
- 2Register on chatanywhere. Use the registration link in the README and bind your GitHub account.
- 3Copy your API key. Save the key from your account and keep it private.
- 4Choose a host. Use api.chatanywhere.tech from mainland China or api.chatanywhere.org from outside it.
- 5Set base URL and key in your client. In any OpenAI-compatible tool, set the base URL to the host and the key to your new key, then choose a supported model name.
- 6Watch the daily limit. Track your requests against the 200 per day per IP and key cap and check the status page if calls fail.
What GPT_API_free actually is
The repository documents a hosted API relay. You do not run a server from it. You sign in, receive an API key, and send requests to the relay host, which forwards them to the underlying models.
The README says the protocol is unified with the OpenAI standard, so other vendors' models are reached by changing the model name. Claude models support the Anthropic protocol, according to the same page.
- Type: web service with an API, not a local program
- Protocol: OpenAI-compatible; Claude also supports the Anthropic protocol
- Licence of the repository: MIT
Get a free API key
The README's free route is to register and bind a GitHub account on the chatanywhere site. The free key is then used in your requests like any other API key.
Free keys come with usage limits. The README lists a limit of 200 requests per day per IP and key, counted separately for GPT and embedding calls.
- Open the registration link in the README and sign in with GitHub
- Copy the key shown in your account
- Keep the key private; the README says a single key shared across many IPs or IPs sharing many keys still counts toward the same daily cap
Point your client at the relay host
The README says you must change the Host in your client to one of two addresses. The first, api.chatanywhere.tech, is listed for mainland China access with lower latency. The second, api.chatanywhere.org, is listed for use outside China.
Because the interface follows the OpenAI standard, most OpenAI-compatible tools accept a custom base URL and key. Set those two values in your tool's settings.
- Host for mainland China: https://api.chatanywhere.tech
- Host for use outside China: https://api.chatanywhere.org
- Free models listed include deepseek, gpt-3.5-turbo, embedding, gpt-4o series and gpt-5 series
Check the model list and prices before you build
The free tier and the paid tier are different. The README lists paid models with per-1K-token prices in CA currency units, and it warns that the list may lag and that some models may be removed by the vendor.
Paid keys have no per-day request cap, according to the README, and billing follows the token usage returned by the official API.
- Check the pricing page linked in the README for current prices
- Some models are marked as provided by third parties and may be slower or error more often
- The README says some models are only accessible from countries and regions ChatAnywhere supports
Use it responsibly
The README is explicit about what the free key may be used for. It is limited to personal, non-commercial, educational and nonprofit research. Commercial use and large-scale training of commercial models are prohibited.
The README also asks you not to submit personal information, sensitive information, trade secrets, important data or other protected data. It says the system is for internal evaluation and that commercial or public use is at your own risk. If you see errors or no replies, the README points to status.chatanywhere.tech.
- Do not send personal, confidential or protected data
- Do not use free keys for commercial products
- Check status.chatanywhere.tech if requests fail
What people use it for
- Students testing prompts on gpt-4o or gpt-5 models for a class project
- Researchers comparing DeepSeek and GPT answers on a non-commercial study
- Developers trying one OpenAI-style client against several models by changing only the model name
- Learning how chat completion requests look before moving to a paid key
Frequently asked questions
Is GPT_API_free free to use?
The README says free keys are available after signing in with GitHub, with usage limits. It also says free keys are only for personal, non-commercial, educational or nonprofit research, and paid keys are offered without those limits.
Do I need to install anything to use GPT_API_free?
No software install is described. The README lists a git clone command for the repository, but the service itself is accessed by sending API requests to the chatanywhere host with your key.
What is the daily limit on the free key?
The README says free keys are limited to 200 requests per day per IP and key, counted separately for GPT and embedding calls. Paid keys are not subject to this limit.
Can I use it in mainland China without a proxy?
The README claims that domestic routing with dynamic acceleration allows direct access without a proxy, and recommends api.chatanywhere.tech for China. This is the project's own claim and was not independently verified here.
Is GPT_API_free an alternative to LiteLLM or OpenRouter?
It is a related option in the same space. LiteLLM, OpenRouter, one-api and new-api are other tools people compare for routing several models behind one interface. Compare their terms, pricing and limits before you choose.
Why is my request failing or getting no reply?
The README suggests checking status.chatanywhere.tech to see whether the service is working. Also confirm your key, host and model name, and check whether you have hit the free daily request limit.
New agent skills, repos and AI tools — every week
The best new skills and open-source projects, the fastest-growing repos, and one free prompt. Five minutes to read. Unsubscribe anytime.
Our verdict
GPT_API_free suits students and researchers running small, non-commercial experiments who want to try several models through one OpenAI-style endpoint. It is a poor fit for commercial products, public-facing apps, sensitive data, or any workload that needs guaranteed uptime, since the README itself says use is at your own risk.
Install options & downloads