What AIProxy.io was
AIProxy.io launched in April 2023 as an AI API relay (API 中转): you topped up a token balance, pointed your code at aiproxy.io/v1 instead of api.openai.com, and the relay forwarded your requests to GPT-4, Claude, DALL·E and Whisper. For developers in regions where OpenAI doesn't accept payments or blocks API access, it solved two problems at once — payment and reachability.
It was listed as a supported provider in the popular open-source One API gateway project and reviewed across Chinese developer forums, which is why so many tutorials and READMEs still link here.
What happened
Through 2025 the service became increasingly unreliable, and by late 2025 the site, dashboard and API endpoints stopped responding entirely. The operating company never published a shutdown notice. The domain registration was allowed to lapse — which is how this page exists: the domain changed hands after it dropped.
This is a recurring pattern with anonymous API relays: they run on thin margins, depend on upstream accounts that can be banned in bulk, and when the economics stop working they disappear without notice — taking prepaid balances with them.
Is my token balance recoverable?
Realistically, no. There is no functioning storefront, no support channel, and no legal entity you can practically pursue for a small prepaid balance. If you paid by card recently, a chargeback through your bank is the only avenue worth trying.
Beware of revival scams. When a known service dies, look-alike domains appear claiming to be "the new AIProxy" and asking users to log in or re-enter payment details. Check domain registration dates and never re-enter credentials on a site you can't verify.
How to rebuild your AI API access properly
You have two solid paths, and they're not mutually exclusive:
- Another relay — fastest to set up, same structural risk. If you go this route, our alternatives guide covers how to vet a relay before trusting it with a balance.
- Direct provider accounts + your own gateway — self-host One API or a similar gateway, add your own OpenAI/Anthropic keys, and route traffic through a static residential proxy in a supported country. Slightly more setup, but nobody can vanish with your balance.
Why direct access beats relays in 2026
| Factor | Anonymous relay | Direct + own proxy |
|---|---|---|
| Balance safety | Lost if the relay dies (see: this site) | Credit sits in your own OpenAI/Anthropic account |
| Privacy | Relay sees every prompt and response | Only the model provider sees your data |
| Model access | Whatever the relay resells, often delayed | New models on launch day |
| Rate limits | Shared across all relay customers | Your own account tier |
| Cost | Marked-up per-token pricing | Provider list price + a few $/mo for the proxy |