One key replaces four
Configure RunAPI once in OpenClaw and all four tool types work: chat, image_generate, video_generate, and music_generate. No extra skills to install, no ComfyUI plugins, no third-party bridges for Suno.
BEST API FOR OPENCLAW
Best API for OpenClaw: One Key for LLM, Image, Video, and Music
OpenClaw supports chat, image_generate, video_generate, and music_generate — but most API providers only cover one or two. RunAPI covers all four with one key, 113+ models from 18 providers, and pay-as-you-go pricing from 2 cents per call.
Updated June 11, 2026
RunAPI Editorial Team
Configure RunAPI as an API provider in this OpenClaw workspace.
- Add a provider named "runapi" with baseUrl "https://runapi.ai/v1".
- Read the API key from RUNAPI_API_KEY. Do not hardcode the key.
- Use api "openai-completions".
- Register model id "gpt-5.5" with display name "RunAPI GPT 5.5".
- Set the default model to "runapi/gpt-5.5" while keeping existing providers available.
- After editing config, run `openclaw models status` and confirm `runapi/gpt-5.5` appears.
- If RUNAPI_API_KEY is missing, ask me to set it before starting OpenClaw.
Sign up at https://runapi.ai to get your API key.QUICK ANSWER
What makes an API provider the best fit for OpenClaw?
OpenClaw agents use four tool types: chat for LLM, image_generate, video_generate, and music_generate. A provider that only covers LLM leaves three tools unconfigured. A provider that only covers images still leaves two gaps. RunAPI is the only single-key provider that fills all four slots with 113+ models, so you configure one baseUrl and one API key instead of managing credentials for four separate services.
LLM: 20+ chat models
Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, and more through the OpenAI-compatible /v1/chat/completions endpoint. Stream responses or request synchronous output.
Image: 30+ generation models
Flux Kontext, Nano Banana, GPT Image, Imagen 4, Seedream, Ideogram, and others. Text-to-image, image-to-image, edit, remix, upscale, and background removal.
Video: 25+ generation models
Kling, Veo, Seedance, Hailuo, Wan, Runway, and Luma. Text-to-video, image-to-video, and video editing with async task polling.
Music: Suno API access
Suno v4, v4.5, v4.5-plus, v5, and v5.5 through a direct API. Custom mode, extend, remix, and lyrics generation without third-party bridges.
WHAT SETS RUNAPI APART
Why OpenClaw developers choose RunAPI over single-provider APIs
OpenClaw tutorials show developers juggling Replicate for images ($1 per 28 generations), a separate LLM provider, and bridges for music. Each provider means a separate API key, a separate billing dashboard, and a separate failure mode. RunAPI collapses that into one integration point.
Model switching cuts costs
Developers running OpenClaw agents cut monthly API bills from $1,000 to $1 by routing routine tasks to cheaper models. RunAPI's 113+ model catalog makes the same strategy available across all four modalities.
OpenAI-compatible endpoint
OpenClaw already supports custom OpenAI-compatible providers. Point baseUrl to https://runapi.ai/v1, set the API key, and every model in the RunAPI catalog becomes available without custom skill code.
Pay-as-you-go, no subscription
No monthly minimums, no credit packs that expire, no tiered plans. You pay for what your OpenClaw agent actually generates. Add credits when you need them, stop spending when you do not.
DECISION TABLE
Which API provider fits each OpenClaw use case?
| Need | Best match | Why |
|---|---|---|
| LLM chat only, no media generation | OpenAI or RunAPI | Both work as OpenAI-compatible providers. RunAPI adds model variety and lower cost options. |
| Image generation in OpenClaw agents | RunAPI | 30+ image models through one endpoint. No extra skill installation or ComfyUI setup required. |
| Video generation in OpenClaw agents | RunAPI | 25+ video models including Kling, Veo, and Seedance. No other single-key provider covers video at this depth. |
| Music generation in OpenClaw agents | RunAPI | Direct Suno API access without third-party bridges. Other providers do not offer music generation. |
| All four modalities from one key | RunAPI | The only provider that covers LLM, image, video, and music through one API key and one billing account. |
| Cheapest possible image generation | Runware or RunAPI | Runware offers 1,670 images per dollar. RunAPI competes on breadth: images plus video, music, and LLM in one key. |
PROVIDER COMPARISON
RunAPI vs OpenAI vs fal.ai vs Replicate vs OpenRouter
| Dimension | RunAPI | OpenAI | fal.ai | Replicate | OpenRouter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLM models | 20+ models: Claude, GPT, Gemini, DeepSeek. OpenAI-compatible endpoint. | GPT models only. Native API. | No LLM models. Image and video only. | Some LLM models. Not OpenAI-compatible. | 100+ LLM models. OpenAI-compatible. No media generation. |
| Image models | 30+ models: Flux, Nano Banana, GPT Image, Imagen 4, Seedream, Ideogram, Recraft. | GPT Image only. | 20+ models: Flux, Stable Diffusion, and community models. | Large model library. $1 per 28 images on some models. | No image generation. |
| Video models | 25+ models: Kling, Veo, Seedance, Hailuo, Wan, Runway, Luma. | No video generation. | Limited video models. | Some video models. Higher per-generation cost. | No video generation. |
| Music models | Suno v4 through v5.5. Custom mode, extend, remix, lyrics. | No music generation. | No music generation. | No music generation. | No music generation. |
| Pricing model | Pay-as-you-go. No subscription. No expiring credits. | Pay-as-you-go. Higher per-call cost on most models. | Pay-as-you-go. Competitive image pricing at ~4 cents per image. | Pay-per-second compute. Costs vary widely by model. | Pay-as-you-go. LLM only. |
| OpenAI-compatible | Yes. /v1/chat/completions works with OpenClaw out of the box. | Yes. Native OpenAI API. | No. Custom REST API. | No. Custom REST API. | Yes. /v1/chat/completions. LLM only. |
| Free tier | Free sign-up. Pay-as-you-go from first call. | Free tier with limited credits for new accounts. | Free tier with limited monthly credits. | Free tier with limited compute seconds. | Free tier with limited credits on select models. |
PRODUCTION CHECKLIST
What to verify before running OpenClaw agents in production
A working demo is not a production deployment. These four checks prevent the common failure modes that OpenClaw developers hit after the first week: unexpected bills, broken tool calls, missing error handling, and credential leaks.
Credentials
Store the API key in an environment variable
Set RUNAPI_API_KEY in your shell profile or CI secrets. Never paste API keys into the OpenClaw context window or commit them to version control. The OpenClaw config reads ${RUNAPI_API_KEY} at runtime.
Cost control
Route tasks by model cost
Use cheaper models like gpt-5.4-mini for routine code review and reserve premium models for complex reasoning. The same strategy applies to images: use fast models for drafts, pro models for final output.
Error handling
Handle 402 and 429 responses
A 402 means insufficient credits. A 429 means rate limit. Both are recoverable. Configure OpenClaw to retry on 429 with backoff and alert on 402 so you can add credits before the agent stalls.
Monitoring
Track spending per modality
Use the RunAPI dashboard to monitor daily spending by model and endpoint. Set budget alerts before a long-running agent session. Review the usage breakdown weekly to find cost optimization opportunities.
USE CASE GUIDE
Coding agent with image generation
OpenClaw agents that generate UI mockups, product photos, or diagrams alongside code. Route image_generate tool calls to Flux Kontext, Nano Banana, or GPT Image through RunAPI.
Image generation guideContent agent with video and music
OpenClaw workflows that produce marketing videos, social clips, or background music for presentations. Route video_generate to Kling or Veo, and music_generate to Suno.
Video API comparisonMulti-model cost optimization
Agents that switch between cheap and premium models based on task complexity. Use gpt-5.4-mini for simple tasks, gpt-5.5 for complex reasoning, and flux-kontext-pro for images, all from one API key.
View pricingAPI EXAMPLES
Four modalities, one API key, one OpenClaw config
These are the actual request bodies your OpenClaw agent sends through RunAPI. Each modality uses a different endpoint but the same API key and authentication. Switch models by changing the model field.
{
"model": "gpt-5.5",
"messages": [
{
"role": "user",
"content": "Summarize this pull request"
}
],
"stream": true
}{
"model": "flux-kontext-pro",
"prompt": "Product photo of wireless headphones on marble surface"
}{
"model": "kling-3.0",
"prompt": "Drone flyover of a coastal city at golden hour",
"duration": "5"
}{
"model": "suno-v4.5",
"prompt": "Upbeat jazz piano loop, 120 BPM, no vocals",
"duration": 30
}SETUP GUIDE
How to configure RunAPI in OpenClaw
1
Set the API key
Create a free RunAPI account, generate an API key from the dashboard, and export it as RUNAPI_API_KEY in your shell profile. OpenClaw reads the key from the environment at startup.
2
Add RunAPI as a provider
Open the OpenClaw config and add a custom provider with baseUrl https://runapi.ai/v1, api set to openai-completions, and the model ID you want to use, such as gpt-5.5. Set models.mode to merge to keep existing providers.
3
Verify and start
Run openclaw models status to confirm the RunAPI model appears. Switch to it with openclaw models set runapi/gpt-5.5, then start an OpenClaw session. Image, video, and music tools work through the same API key.
DEVELOPER DIFFERENCES
What changes when you switch to RunAPI for OpenClaw
No extra skills needed
SetupOther providers require custom GitHub skills, bash scripts, or ComfyUI plugins for media generation in OpenClaw. RunAPI works through the standard OpenAI-compatible provider interface with no additional installation.
Direct Suno access
MusicOpenClaw music generation tutorials show multi-hop architectures: Telegram to OpenClaw to a bridge service to Suno. RunAPI provides Suno v4 through v5.5 directly, removing the bridge layer and its failure modes.
Model-level cost control
PricingRunAPI's catalog lets you pick the cost-performance point for each task. Use gpt-5.4-nano for simple classification, gpt-5.5 for complex reasoning, flux-kontext-pro for production images, and suno-v4 for draft music.
Consistent async lifecycle
WorkflowImage, video, and music tasks share the same create-poll-webhook lifecycle. Your OpenClaw agent creates a task, polls until completion, and receives the output URL. Switching from Kling to Veo changes the model field, not the integration code.
PRICING COMPARISON
API cost varies by provider and modality
Image generation costs range from $1 per 28 images on Replicate to 1,670 images per dollar on Runware. LLM costs depend on model and token count. RunAPI uses pay-as-you-go pricing across all modalities with no subscriptions, no expiring credits, and no minimum spend. Check the live pricing page for current per-call rates.
Methodology
Pricing data comes from provider documentation, public API pricing pages, and developer community reports as of June 2026. Costs change frequently. Always verify current pricing on the provider's pricing page before production deployment.
FAQ
Best API for OpenClaw — common questions
Can OpenClaw use RunAPI for image, video, and music generation?
Yes. RunAPI provides 113+ models across LLM, image, video, and music modalities through one API key. Configure RunAPI as a custom OpenAI-compatible provider in OpenClaw and all four tool types work without extra skills or plugins.
Is RunAPI cheaper than using OpenAI directly for OpenClaw?
RunAPI offers the same OpenAI models plus 90+ alternatives at competitive pricing. Model switching alone can cut costs significantly. Use gpt-5.4-mini for routine tasks and reserve premium models for complex work.
Do I need to install a custom skill for image generation in OpenClaw?
Not with RunAPI. Other providers require GitHub skills or ComfyUI plugins. RunAPI works through the standard OpenAI-compatible endpoint, so OpenClaw's built-in image_generate tool connects without additional setup.
How does RunAPI handle Suno music generation for OpenClaw?
RunAPI provides direct API access to Suno v4 through v5.5. Your OpenClaw agent calls the music_generate tool, which sends a request to RunAPI's Suno endpoint. No third-party bridge or separate Suno account needed.
Can I keep my existing OpenClaw providers and add RunAPI?
Yes. Set models.mode to merge in your OpenClaw config. RunAPI becomes one provider alongside your existing ones. You can set RunAPI as the primary model or keep it as a fallback for specific modalities.
What happens if I run out of RunAPI credits during an OpenClaw session?
RunAPI returns a 402 status code. Your OpenClaw agent receives an insufficient credits error and stops generating. Add credits through the RunAPI dashboard and the agent resumes immediately. No subscription required.
GET STARTED
One API key. Four modalities. 113+ models.
Configure RunAPI in OpenClaw once and your coding agent gains access to LLM chat, image generation, video generation, and music creation through a single API key and billing account.