Use case

AI API for Startups

Ship AI-powered features on a startup timeline and budget. One API, nine models, no subscription lock-in, and 40 free trial credits to get started.

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You only pay credits per request. No monthly subscription. Paid credits never expire.

Replace multiple AI subscriptions with one wallet that includes routing, failover, and optimization.

First success in 60 seconds
Step 01Sign up in 10 secondsGet 40 free creditsStep 02Open your dashboardCreate API keyStep 03Send first requestRun a sample
Why teams start here first
No monthly subscription
Pay-as-you-go credits
Start with trial credits, then buy only what you consume.
Failover safety
Production-ready routing
Auto fallback across providers when latency, quality, or reliability changes.
Data control
Your policy, your choice
BYOK and zero-retention mode keep training and storage scope explicit.
Single API experience
One key, multi-provider access
Use Chat/Compare/Blend/Judge/Failover from one dashboard.
Common problem
Startups cannot afford to spend weeks integrating multiple LLM providers just to find the right model for their use case, especially when product requirements change rapidly.
Common problem
Provider lock-in is risky for early-stage companies: switching models later requires rewriting integration code, re-testing prompts, and potentially breaking production features.
Common problem
Unpredictable LLM costs make budgeting difficult when you are pre-revenue or operating on a tight runway, and surprise bills from token overages can blow through monthly budgets.

How LLMWise helps

✓Five-minute setup with 40 free trial credits means you can prototype AI features on day one without a credit card or enterprise contract.
✓Access to nine models through one API lets you experiment freely, compare models side by side, and pivot to a different model without rewriting code.
✓Pay-as-you-go credits with no subscription eliminate the risk of monthly charges that outlast your usage, and paid credits do not expire.
✓Built-in failover and model routing give you production-grade reliability from the start, so you do not have to build infrastructure you cannot afford to maintain.
Evidence snapshot

AI API for Startups implementation evidence

Use-case readiness across problem fit, expected outcomes, and integration workload.

Problems mapped
3
pain points addressed
Benefits
4
outcome claims surfaced
Integration steps
4
path to first deployment
Decision FAQs
5
adoption blockers handled

Integration path

  1. Create a LLMWise account and grab your API key. Your 40 free trial credits are loaded instantly and expire after 7 days. No credit card required.
  2. Use Compare mode to test your core prompts across multiple models. Identify which model delivers the best quality-to-cost ratio for your specific use case in a single afternoon.
  3. Integrate LLMWise into your MVP using the LLMWise SDK or the REST API. Use Auto mode for intelligent routing so you do not have to hard-code model choices that may change.
  4. As you grow, enable Optimization policies to automatically right-size your model selection based on real usage data, and bring your own API keys to reduce per-token costs further.
Example API call
POST /api/v1/chat
{
  "model": "auto",
  "messages": [
    {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant."},
    {"role": "user", "content": "..."}
  ],
  "stream": true
}
Example workflow

A seed-stage startup building an AI writing assistant starts by signing up for LLMWise and receiving 40 free trial credits — enough to prototype the core feature in an afternoon. The founder uses Compare mode to test the same writing prompt across GPT-5.2, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and Gemini 3 Flash, discovering that Claude Sonnet 4.5 produces the best creative output while Gemini 3 Flash handles grammar corrections at one-third the cost. They integrate LLMWise using the LLMWise SDK with Auto mode, shipping v1 to beta users in under a week. As the user base grows from 50 to 5,000, the founder enables Optimization policies that automatically shift routine grammar checks to cheaper models, keeping the monthly AI bill under $200 while quality stays high.

Why LLMWise for this use case

Startups need to move fast, spend carefully, and avoid architectural dead ends. LLMWise delivers all three: five-minute setup with free trial credits means you can prototype on day one, pay-as-you-go pricing with no subscription eliminates the risk of paying for capacity you do not use, and the provider-agnostic API means the model choices you make today do not lock you into a vendor you might outgrow tomorrow. As your product scales, features like BYOK, optimization policies, and automatic failover grow with you — infrastructure you would otherwise have to build and maintain yourself.

Common questions

Is LLMWise free for startups?
Every new account gets 40 free trial credits that expire after 7 days. That is enough for 40 chat requests or over 13 compare operations. After that, you add paid credits as needed. There is no monthly subscription, and paid credits do not expire.
Can I bring my own API keys to reduce costs?
Yes. LLMWise supports Bring Your Own Key for all supported providers. When you add your own key, requests route directly to the provider and do not consume LLMWise credits, giving you the orchestration features at no additional per-token cost.
What if I outgrow LLMWise?
LLMWise uses a portable role/content message format and standard HTTP/JSON APIs. If you ever migrate away, you keep your prompts and can swap clients/endpoints without rewriting your product logic. Most teams find the opposite: the more they grow, the more value they get from multi-model routing, failover, and optimization.
What is the best AI API for startups on a budget?
LLMWise is ideal for budget-conscious startups because it combines free trial credits, no-subscription pricing, and access to nine models through one integration. Instead of committing to a single expensive provider, you can use Auto mode to route each request to the most cost-effective model that meets your quality bar. BYOK mode further reduces costs by eliminating per-token markup once you have your own provider accounts. Many startups find their AI costs drop 30 to 50 percent compared to using a single frontier model for everything.
How quickly can I add AI to my MVP with LLMWise?
Most startups go from sign-up to a working AI feature in under an hour. If you already use role/content messages, integration is usually wiring one endpoint (or using the SDK) plus a streaming parser. The 40 free trial credits let you test immediately without payment setup. Compare mode helps you pick the right model in minutes rather than days of manual testing. Teams routinely ship AI-powered MVPs to beta users within a single sprint.

One wallet, enterprise AI controls built in

You only pay credits per request. No monthly subscription. Paid credits never expire.

Replace multiple AI subscriptions with one wallet that includes routing, failover, and optimization.

Chat, Compare, Blend, Judge, MeshPolicy routing + replay labFailover without extra subscriptions
Start free with 40 creditsSee pricing examples
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