Cline OpenAI-compatible API setup: Base URL, API key, and model ID

How to start with RutaAPI

curl https://api.rutaapi.com/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_RUTAAPI_KEY"

What Cline needs

When you configure Cline to use an OpenAI-compatible API provider, Cline asks for four things:

• API Provider — Choose OpenAI Compatible so Cline uses OpenAI-compatible request formatting.
• Base URL — The root address of the API gateway. The correct value is https://api.rutaapi.com/v1.
• API Key — A secret token that identifies your RutaAPI account. Create one from the dashboard.
• Model ID — The identifier of the model that handles your requests. Must be enabled in your RutaAPI account.

All four must belong to the same provider. Do not mix keys or Base URLs across platforms.

RutaAPI values for Cline

Base URL: https://api.rutaapi.com/v1

API key: Create one after signing in to RutaAPI at https://app.rutaapi.com.

Model ID: Use a model ID visible in the RutaAPI app pricing page. Run GET /v1/models to see which models are enabled.

Test your RutaAPI key before using it in Cline

Before configuring Cline, verify that your API key and Base URL work together by calling /v1/models from the terminal:

curl https://api.rutaapi.com/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_RUTAAPI_KEY"

If the response returns a model list, your API key and Base URL are working. Use one of the returned model IDs as the Model ID in Cline.

Example OpenAI-compatible request

Once your key is verified, you can also send a chat completions request to confirm everything works end-to-end:

curl https://api.rutaapi.com/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_RUTAAPI_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "YOUR_ENABLED_MODEL_ID",
    "messages": [
      {"role": "user", "content": "Say hello from RutaAPI"}
    ]
  }'

Replace YOUR_ENABLED_MODEL_ID with one of the model IDs from the /v1/models response. Do not hardcode a model name you have not verified.

How to pick a Model ID

Model IDs are returned by the GET /v1/models endpoint. Copy one of the model id values from the response and use it as the Model ID in Cline settings.

Model availability is per-account. If a model ID is not in your /v1/models response, it is not active in your account — add credits or check the app pricing page.

Common Cline setup mistakes

Cost and usage tracking

RutaAPI uses prepaid credits. Model pricing and enabled routes are shown in the app pricing page. Users should check usage logs and remaining balance after test calls.

View model pricing

Cline setup checklist

• I selected OpenAI Compatible provider
• I used https://api.rutaapi.com/v1 as the Base URL
• I pasted a RutaAPI API key
• I selected an enabled model ID
• /v1/models returns a model list
• I checked pricing and usage in the dashboard

When RutaAPI may be a good fit

• You need an OpenAI-compatible Base URL for Cline
• You want dashboard-generated API keys
• You want prepaid credits
• You want to verify available models with /v1/models
• You need docs for Cursor, Cline, Codex CLI and Claude Code
• You want usage visibility before scaling

When RutaAPI may not be the right fit

• Your Cline version does not support OpenAI-compatible provider configuration
• The selected model is unavailable upstream
• Your API key belongs to another provider
• You require official Cline, OpenAI or Anthropic-only features