Unified model access
Use one API key and common gateway surface to access hundreds of models from providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and open-model vendors. Supported modalities include text, image, video, and audio.
Vercel AI Gateway
Freemium
Vercel AI Gateway gives developers one API surface for hundreds of text, image, video, and audio models across multiple providers. It centralizes model access, routing, fallback, billing, and observability while supporting AI SDK, OpenAI, and Anthropic workflows.
What is Vercel AI Gateway?
Vercel AI Gateway is a hosted gateway for applications that use multiple AI model providers. It offers one API key and a common interface for hundreds of models spanning text, image, video, and audio workloads.
Developers can access the gateway through the Vercel AI SDK or compatible OpenAI Chat Completions, OpenAI Responses, and Anthropic Messages workflows. Existing OpenAI and Anthropic integrations can be migrated by changing the base URL rather than rewriting model calls.
Beyond access, the gateway combines provider routing, automatic fallback, billing, and observability. Requests can be directed according to availability, cost, or latency, while fallback can move a request to the same model through another provider when the primary provider degrades. The service states that it passes through provider pricing without token markups.
What can Vercel AI Gateway do?
Compatible SDK workflows
Use the Vercel AI SDK with TypeScript or Python, or work through Chat Completions, Messages, and Responses interfaces. Existing OpenAI and Anthropic SDK integrations can be moved by changing the base URL.
Policy-based routing
Route requests for availability, cost, or latency. The gateway describes patterns including cost-efficient models for routine requests, larger models for heavier work, and fast-responding models for latency-sensitive requests.
Provider fallback
If a provider degrades, the gateway can fail over to the same model through another provider, helping applications continue serving requests without changing the application-level model choice.
Centralized billing and observability
View billing and observability across the AI stack in one place instead of managing each provider separately. The product page states that token prices are passed through without a markup.
Data-retention controls
Requests can be routed only to providers covered by a zero-data-retention agreement. The source describes this control as configurable per request or for an entire team.
Use Cases
“Move an existing provider integration”
A team with OpenAI or Anthropic SDK code can point its integration at AI Gateway with a base URL change, preserving the existing request style while gaining access to additional providers and models.
“Keep a production model available during provider issues”
An application that depends on a particular model can configure provider fallback so requests use the same model through another provider when the primary provider degrades.
“Balance model cost and response speed”
A product can use routing rules to send routine requests to a cost-efficient model, route latency-sensitive requests to the fastest responding option, and reserve larger models for more demanding work.
“Evaluate models before adoption”
Engineering or product teams can use the model directory to compare capabilities, providers, input and output prices, latency, modalities, and listed data-handling attributes before selecting a model.
“Apply stricter data-handling requirements”
A team that requires zero data retention can configure routing to providers covered by a ZDR agreement, either for individual requests or across the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vercel AI Gateway?
It is a gateway for accessing hundreds of AI models from multiple providers through one API surface and API key. It also provides routing, fallback, billing, and observability features.
Which model types does AI Gateway support?
The product page lists text, image, video, and audio models. The model directory also exposes filters for modalities including retrieval, evaluation, and tools.
Can existing OpenAI or Anthropic applications use the gateway?
Yes. Vercel states that existing OpenAI and Anthropic SDK integrations can be pointed at AI Gateway by changing the base URL, without rewriting the calls.
How does provider fallback work?
When a provider degrades, the gateway can fail over to the same model through another provider. The page presents this as a way to maintain availability while keeping the application-level model choice.
Does AI Gateway add a markup to model token prices?
The product page says there is no markup on tokens and that users pay provider prices. It also says invoicing is available without payment-processing fees; current model pricing and promotions should be checked in the gateway documentation and model directory.
Quick Facts
- Product type
- Multi-provider AI model gateway
- Primary users
- Developers and teams building AI applications and agents
- Model modalities
- Text, image, video, and audio
- Access methods
- Vercel AI SDK; OpenAI Chat Completions and Responses; Anthropic Messages
- Routing options
- Availability, cost, and latency
- Pricing model
- Provider token prices without a token markup, according to the product page
Vercel AI Gateway Alternatives
LiteLLM
docs.litellm.ai
LiteLLM lets teams call and manage 100+ LLMs through an OpenAI-compatible SDK or proxy, with request routing, spend tracking, and multi-provider access.
AIMLAPI
aimlapi.com
AIMLAPI provides one API and billing key for accessing a catalog of AI models for chat, reasoning, image, video, audio, voice, search, embeddings, code, and related tasks. It is intended for developers and teams that want to compare and use models from multiple providers through a common platform.
ZenMux
zenmux.ai
ZenMux is an enterprise LLM platform with one API for multiple models, automatic prompt routing, flexible pricing, cost visibility, and model-failure compensation.
New API
www.newapi.ai
New API is an open-source, self-hosted AI gateway for developers and teams. It provides a unified OpenAI-compatible endpoint for connecting multiple AI providers, selecting models, configuring channels, and monitoring usage on their own infrastructure.
Router by Ramp
router.com
Router by Ramp is an LLM gateway that gives applications one API endpoint for accessing models from multiple providers. It routes eligible requests based on cost, quality, and availability while providing usage and spend visibility.
CometAPI
cometapi.com
CometAPI is a unified, OpenAI-compatible API layer for accessing more than 500 text, image, video, and audio models through one key. It helps developers and teams compare models, centralize billing, and switch providers without maintaining separate vendor integrations.