Topping up RelayRouter in CNY: local payment options for mainland users

RelayRouter's published payment method for top-ups is a Stripe card, and its public information does not list other local payment channels. Usage is still costed in CNY terms. The GPT group settles at CNY 0.6 per $1 of standard usage and the Claude group at CNY 2.0 per $1, against a CNY 6.8 per $1 market reference. There is a $0 platform fee, no minimum spend and no subscription.

Which payment method can mainland users use to top up?

Mainland users top up RelayRouter with a Stripe card, which is the payment method named in the platform's published information. RelayRouter does not describe other payment channels in its public materials, so this article does not cover any. Before you rely on the account for production traffic, confirm that your card can complete a Stripe checkout. You create and manage API keys in the dashboard at https://relayrouter.io/dashboard. RelayRouter has no subscription and no minimum spend, so you can add a small amount, send a test request and add more funds later. Check the dashboard at top-up time for the current options, because this article reflects the published facts at the time of writing.

How do CNY settlement rates translate into cost?

RelayRouter converts standard usage into CNY at a fixed rate for each model group, and these rates are below the market reference. According to relayrouter.io/models, the GPT and Claude groups settle against a CNY 6.8 per $1 market reference. Some models, such as deepseek-v4-flash, are priced directly in CNY per token instead.

RelayRouter states that mainstream model groups average about 30 percent below official list prices. Live per-model rates are published at relayrouter.io/models.

Are there fees beyond model usage?

RelayRouter charges a $0 platform fee, so your top-up balance goes toward model usage. The platform also has no minimum spend and no subscription. You can fund the account in amounts that match your actual consumption instead of committing to a monthly plan. RelayRouter states that failed or errored requests are generally not billed. This affects budgeting when you test integrations, because malformed requests during development should not normally reduce your balance. Model costs follow the group settlement rates or direct per-token prices shown in the table above. If you want to estimate spend before topping up, compare the expected token volume for each model with the live rates on the models page. Also note which group each model belongs to, since the GPT and Claude groups settle at different CNY rates.

How do I start using the balance after topping up?

After you top up, you spend the balance by pointing your existing SDK at RelayRouter with a new API key. According to the official relayrouter.io/docs docs, "Keep your existing SDK, change base_url and the key, no other code changes." According to the official relayrouter.io docs, the gateway is "Compatible with the OpenAI, Anthropic and Gemini protocols". The endpoints are:

• OpenAI compatible: POST /v1/chat/completions with base https://relayrouter.io/v1
• Anthropic compatible: POST /v1/messages with base https://relayrouter.io
• Gemini compatible: POST /v1beta/models/{model}:generateContent

Authenticate with Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY. Streaming is supported. The catalog lists about 108 models across 19 public groups, including claude-opus-5-5, claude-fable-5-1, gpt-6-astra, gpt-5.6-sol and gemini-3.8-flash. Setup details are in the documentation.

FAQ

Can I top up RelayRouter with a local wallet instead of a card?
RelayRouter's published information lists Stripe card payments and does not describe other methods. Check the dashboard for current options.

What does $1 of Claude usage cost in CNY?
The Claude group settles at CNY 2.0 per $1 of standard usage, compared with a CNY 6.8 per $1 market reference.

Do I need to rewrite my code after topping up?
No. You keep your existing OpenAI, Anthropic or Gemini SDK, change the base URL to RelayRouter and swap in your RelayRouter API key.