Tool Review

Kaopu API Review: One Month of Testing — Pricing, Stability, Limitations & Usage Tips

After roughly one month of using Kaopu API: pricing (~95% cheaper), top-up discounts (20% off), subscription plans (daily/weekly/monthly cards), stability, payment limitations, and companion tool recommendations.

TL;DR

Kaopu API is an AI API proxy service targeting Chinese-speaking users. After roughly one month of use, we believe it’s suitable for individual developers who want to use OpenAI-compatible APIs while dramatically cutting costs — provided you can accept the stability fluctuations and payment method limitations of a smaller proxy.

Who It’s For

Kaopu API is a good fit for:

• Individual developers primarily using OpenAI APIs: Official API pay-as-you-go pricing is relatively high; switching to a proxy can save roughly 95% in costs (our test results; actual savings may vary by model and usage)
• Self-funded workers or side project builders: Budget-constrained, need a low-cost API solution
• Rapid prototyping: OpenAI-compatible format, no need to rewrite existing code
• Those who value real-time community communication: Has a WeChat group where the admin syncs service status and handling updates live

Who It’s NOT For

The following scenarios may not be suitable for Kaopu API:

• Handling sensitive data: Enterprise internal data, customer PII, trade secrets, etc. should not pass through third-party proxies
• Production / formal products: Proxy stability cannot match official APIs; unsuitable for availability-critical services
• Industries with strict compliance: Finance, healthcare, government, etc. should use official APIs or contracted providers
• Users without Alipay: Alipay is currently the primary payment method (reportedly WeChat transfers to the admin are possible but non-standard)

Costs & Plans

The following reflects information at time of writing (prices and plans may change; please refer to Kaopu API’s official page):

Pay-as-you-go

Kaopu API uses an OpenAI-compatible format. Our testing showed approximately 95% cost savings versus official API pricing (officially advertised as ~96%; actual savings vary slightly by model and usage).

Model Pricing Table

The following are actual prices displayed on Kaopu API’s pricing page (prices may change; refer to official page). Pricing is in RMB (¥).

OpenAI Series:

OpenAI series supports cache read only; no cache write fees.

Anthropic Series:

Google Gemini Series:

Image Generation:

Cache notes: OpenAI and Gemini series support cache read only; Anthropic supports both cache read and cache write. When making frequent repeated calls with the same prompt, enabling cache can significantly reduce costs.

Top-Up Discounts

Current top-up bonus: Deposit ¥16 to receive ¥20 in credits, equivalent to an additional 20% discount. We recommend starting with a small top-up for testing before committing larger amounts.

Subscription Plans

If you’re unsure about monthly usage, Kaopu API offers the following plans (prices may change; refer to official page):

Additional workday packages (1-year validity) for lower-usage users:

Selection tip: If unsure about usage, start with the ¥16 Workday Light plan for testing (effectively 20% off), then consider daily or monthly cards after confirming the service fits your needs.

Supported Features

• OpenAI-compatible format (at time of writing; verify latest support yourself)
• image2 support (image generation features), also at lower pricing
• Simple registration, no complex overseas verification needed

Testing Observations

Stability

Over roughly one month of use, the service experienced approximately 3 outages. The admin communicated outage causes and recovery timelines immediately in the WeChat group. For non-critical personal projects, this outage frequency is acceptable; but for high-availability needs, prepare backup options.

Model Quality

During our usage, we did not observe model “watering down” or “degrading” (response quality showed no noticeable difference from official API). However, this is our subjective ~1-month experience and does not constitute a long-term guarantee of model quality.

Testing Screenshots

Below are actual usage records from our testing of Kaopu API (May 2026):

Daily Usage Example:

On a given day, API consumption was ¥7.62, RPM 6, TPM 308,412 — compared to official API pricing, actual costs were indeed around 5%.

Cumulative Statistics:

Cumulative 205 requests, total cost ~$22.19, token usage 21,383,015 — real usage data from our site for reference.

Payment Methods

Currently, the primary payment method is Alipay. WeChat transfers directly to the admin are reportedly possible but are non-standard; check official announcements for specifics.

Usage Tips & Limitations

Risk Notes

Risk Notes: Using an API proxy carries the following potential risks. Please evaluate carefully before use:

• Small proxy, avoid large top-ups: Smaller proxies may adjust or discontinue services for various reasons
• Service stability: ~3 outages in one month of testing; despite real-time community communication, prepare backup options
• Prices and plans may change: Rates, promotions, and subscription plans may adjust at any time
• Limited payment methods: Primarily Alipay; inconvenient for users without Alipay
• Data privacy: API requests pass through third-party servers; do not send highly sensitive data

Companion Tool Suggestion

If you already have a ChatGPT subscription, tools like CC Switch can help you quickly toggle between ChatGPT and Kaopu API. Note: ChatGPT web conversation content and API-side content are typically not shared; you may need to restart conversations when switching.

CTA: Try Kaopu API

If after evaluation you think Kaopu API suits your use case (low-cost side projects, personal dev testing), start here:

View Kaopu API tool details & referral link

Or directly claim the Kaopu API referral link

Tip: Start with a small top-up (e.g., ¥16) to test stability against your actual use case.

Alternatives

Not sure if Kaopu API is for you? Consider these alternatives:

For more comparisons, see How to Choose an AI API Proxy?.

Further Reading

• How to Choose an AI API Proxy? Price, Stability & Risk Comparison
• Monthly AI Tool Cost Estimation: How to Reduce ChatGPT, Claude & API Expenses
• View Referral Codes & Deals

Last updated: 2026-05-30 | Review Status: Tested (~1 month of use) | Prices & plans subject to official page