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Alternatives · Inference APIs

OpenAI API alternatives, graded

thecontinuitylayer.com/alternatives/openai-api

OpenAI API scores highest on its shelf, 5 of 5 (grade A+), so every alternative below scores the same or lower: Groq (5, A+), Anthropic API (5, A+), Fireworks AI (4½, A) lead the ranking. Every grade is read from the maker's own page, checked 5 November 2026, never from a review.

A+
OpenAI API · 5 of 5
13
inference APIs to compare
0
score higher
5 November 2026
Makers' pages checked

Every inference API on the record, ranked

OpenAI API’s own row is shaded. The five columns are the tests a person switching asks about first; each product page has every test, with the maker’s line and the source. Where the test is about training, no is the good answer and is colored as such.

inference APIGradePriceRate limitsTrainingRetentionStatus page
Groq#1 · GroqA+5/5
OpenAI API#2 · OpenAI · this oneA+5/5
Anthropic API#3 · AnthropicA+5/5
Fireworks AI#4 · Fireworks AIA4½/5
OpenRouter#5 · OpenRouterA4½/5
DeepInfra#6 · DeepInfraA4½/5
Gemini API#7 · GoogleB+4/5
xAI API#8 · xAIB+4/5
Together AI#9 · Together AIB3½/5
Mistral API#10 · Mistral AIB3½/5
Cohere API#11 · CohereB3½/5
Baseten#12 · BasetenB3½/5
DeepSeek API#13 · DeepSeekC−2½/5
HiAPI#14 · HiAPID2/5
  • Price · Does it publish a per-token price?
  • Rate limits · Does it publish its rate limits?
  • Training · Does it train on your API prompts by default?
  • Retention · Does it say how long it keeps your prompts and outputs?
  • Status page · Does it run a public status page?

OpenAI API alternatives, by what matters

5 inference APIs that don't train on your prompts by default

  1. A+ Groq
  2. A+ Anthropic API
  3. A Fireworks AI
  4. B+ xAI API
  5. B Together AI

OpenAI API passes this test too.

7 inference APIs that publish their rate limits

  1. A+ Groq
  2. A+ Anthropic API
  3. A OpenRouter
  4. A DeepInfra
  5. B+ xAI API
  6. B Cohere API
  7. B Baseten

OpenAI API passes this test too.

9 inference APIs that say how long they keep your prompts

  1. A+ Groq
  2. A+ Anthropic API
  3. A Fireworks AI
  4. A OpenRouter
  5. A DeepInfra
  6. B+ Gemini API
  7. B+ xAI API
  8. B Mistral API
  9. B Baseten

OpenAI API passes this test too.

What OpenAI changed lately

  1. From December 2026, ChatGPT and Codex draw from one shared usage allowance on Plus, Pro and Business plans, measured in tokens; Instant chat does not count against it. People who hit the limit wait for the reset, upgrade, or buy credits. No token figures are published.

    source

  2. Existing $200 ChatGPT Pro subscribers move to the lower usage allowance that new Pro 200 subscriptions get, at the same $200 price, after keeping the old allowance through October 29. A new Pro 500 plan has the highest included usage; see OpenAI's pricing page.

    source

  3. ChatGPT removed the fixed cap on how many Sites Plus and Pro users can create. Usage and storage limits still apply.

    source

Every change from OpenAI, dated →

Alternatives to the others

The whole shelf: Inference APIs. How the grades are made: How we grade. No maker pays for a place or a grade.