Meet Paywalls.ai: a programmable paywall and usage-based billing proxy for OpenAI-compatible APIs. Route your requests through the proxy to add pricing rules, authorization, and real-time charging—without rebuilding billing or metering.
Production API base URL: https://api.paywalls.ai/v1

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Get started in minutes

1

Create an API key

Sign up and create a paywall in the Dashboard. Copy the secret API key.
2

Point your client to the proxy

Replace your OpenAI base URL and key with Paywalls.ai.
import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
apiKey: process.env.PAYWALLS_API_KEY, // sk-paywalls-...
baseURL: "https://api.paywalls.ai/v1",
});

const res = await client.chat.completions.create({
model: "openai/gpt-5",
user: "user_123", // or use X-Paywall-User header
messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello!" }],
});

console.log(res.choices[0]?.message?.content);
3

Identify the user on every request

Pass a stable user ID via request body (user) or header (X-Paywall-User).This enables authorization and billing.
Learn more: User Identity
4

Handle paywall responses

  • Not authorized → you’ll get an authorization URL
  • Low balance → you’ll get a top-up URL
  • Authorized + funded → request is billed and proxied to the model

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Why Paywalls.ai

  • Drop-in OpenAI compatibility (no SDK lock-in)
  • Real-time cost control and guaranteed margins
  • Works with any stack: code and no-code
  • Monetize anywhere: frontends, backends, agents, and MCP tools

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What happens on each request

  1. Authenticate your paywall via Bearer API key
  2. Extract user ID (body, header, or URL)
  3. Check authorization and balance; return actionable links if needed
  4. Compute and charge per your pricing rules (per-request and/or per-token)
  5. Forward to the provider and stream results back

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Explore next

Quickstart

First proxy request and common patterns.

Overview

Architecture, flows, and core components.

User Identity

How to pass user IDs (body, header, URL).

Proxy

Endpoint, auth, and runtime behavior.

Payments

Authorization and top-up flows.

Billing

Pricing rules, metering, and charging.

Configuration

Set up rules, limits, and defaults.

API Reference

Endpoints, schemas, and examples.