Get started/Quickstart

Quickstart

1. Get a funded API key

Create or reveal a key from your dashboard. Use a real key that starts with key_ and has remaining credit.

2. Send an OpenAI-style request

bash

curl https://dirtcheapai.com/api/v1/chat/completions 
  -H Content-Type: application/json 
  -H Authorization: Bearer key_xxx 
  -d '{
    model: claude-sonnet-4.6,
    messages: [
      { role: user, content: Write a Python factorial function. }
    ],
    max_tokens: 512
  }'

3. Stream the response

bash

curl https://dirtcheapai.com/api/v1/chat/completions 
  -H Content-Type: application/json 
  -H Authorization: Bearer key_xxx 
  -N 
  -d '{
    model: claude-haiku-4.5,
    messages: [
      { role: user, content: Explain async and await in simple terms. }
    ],
    stream: true,
    max_tokens: 512
  }'

4. Check the model catalog

bash

curl https://dirtcheapai.com/api/v1/models 
  -H Authorization: Bearer key_xxx

5. Check balance

bash

curl https://dirtcheapai.com/api/v1/balance 
  -H Authorization: Bearer key_xxx