AI Quickstart

This guide takes you from zero to your first AI completion through the ZapAPI AI Gateway. You'll top up AI credits with Lightning, then call the OpenAI-compatible chat endpoint.

1. Get an API keyCopy Anchor Link

Create a zap_live_* API key from Dashboard → Projects → API Keys (or the API Keys endpoint). The same key works for payments and the AI Gateway.

2. Top up AI creditsCopy Anchor Link

Top up from AI → Billing in the dashboard, or over the API. Minimum 100 sats; Lightning topups earn a +5% bonus in credit.

curl -X POST https://api.zapapi.com/api/v1/ai/topup \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer zap_live_your_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "amountSats": 5000 }'

Pay the returned paymentRequest BOLT11 invoice with any Lightning wallet — or one-click Pay from wallet in the dashboard. Your balance credits automatically when the invoice settles (+5% bonus included).

curl https://api.zapapi.com/api/v1/ai/topup/TOPUP_ID \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer zap_live_your_key"

curl https://api.zapapi.com/api/v1/ai/balance \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer zap_live_your_key"

3. Make your first completionCopy Anchor Link

curl https://api.zapapi.com/api/v1/ai/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer zap_live_your_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-5.5",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Explain the Lightning Network in one paragraph."}]
  }'

Streaming works exactly like OpenAI's — add "stream": true and read SSE deltas.

4. Use it from the OpenAI SDKCopy Anchor Link

import OpenAI from 'openai';

const client = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: 'https://api.zapapi.com/api/v1/ai',
  apiKey: process.env.ZAPAPI_KEY, // zap_live_…
});

const completion = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: 'anthropic/claude-sonnet-5.5',
  messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'Hello!' }],
});

console.log(completion.choices[0].message.content);

Or use the official SDK, which adds typed sats billing, balance, topups and a streaming helper.

5. Browse models and pricesCopy Anchor Link

Every model's live price is listed in sats per 1M tokens:

curl "https://api.zapapi.com/api/v1/ai/models?type=chat" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer zap_live_your_key"

Or browse the public catalog at zapapi.com/models — no account needed.

What's nextCopy Anchor Link

• Chat Completions — streaming, vision, tools, web search, thinking levels, routing suffixes
• Billing & Sats Pricing — exactly how charges are computed
• Auto-topup — NWC auto-refill so you never hit a 402