John Wyatt
Method 1: VPN Service (Recommended for Beginners)
What is a VPN?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your internet traffic through encrypted tunnels to servers in other countries, allowing access to restricted websites.
Core Advantages
- Easy to Use: One-click connection, no technical background required
- Full Device Support: Coverage across all platforms including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android
- Instant Activation: Available immediately after subscription
- Privacy Protection: Encrypts all internet traffic
Usage Recommendations
When choosing a VPN service, prioritize the following factors:
- Server Coverage: Ensure there are nodes in regions supported by Claude/OpenAI, such as the USA and Japan
- Connection Stability: Prefer providers that offer dedicated lines or IPLC connections
- Speed Performance: AI conversations require stable network latency
- Privacy Policy: Choose providers with a no-logs policy
Recommended Solution: Surflare VPN
Surflare VPN is a VPN service optimized for AI users:
- Smart Routing – Automatically selects the optimal node to ensure smooth access to AI services
- Multi-Protocol Support – Based on an advanced proxy framework, stable and efficient
- Cross-Platform Client – Supports mainstream operating systems and mobile devices
- Stable and Reliable – Specifically optimized for services like Claude and ChatGPT
Method 2: Self-Built Proxy Server with VPS (Technical Users)
Applicable Scenarios
If you have some technical background, building your own proxy server is a more flexible and economical choice.
Basic Steps
1. Choose a VPS Provider
| Provider | Official Website | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Vultr | vultr.com | Hourly billing, multiple data center options |
| DigitalOcean | digitalocean.com | Simple to use, rich documentation |
| Linode | linode.com | High cost-performance ratio, established stability |
| AWS Lightsail | aws.amazon.com/lightsail | Amazon product, good network quality |
2. Deploy Proxy Software
It is recommended to use the Clash series of open-source proxy solutions.
3. Configure Client
- Windows/macOS: Clash Verge Rev
- iOS: Shadowrocket, Quantumult X
- Android: Clash Meta for Android
Note: Key Challenge: Network Quality
The biggest challenge of self-built VPS is network stability and speed. Many ordinary VPS international lines have poor quality, which may lead to:
- Unstable connections, frequent disconnections
- High latency, slow AI conversation responses
- Severe packet loss during peak hours
Recommendations for VPS Network Optimization:
| Optimization Direction | Suggestions |
|---|---|
| Line Type | Prefer CN2 GIA, IPLC/IEPL dedicated lines, CMI optimized lines |
| Data Center Location | Lower latency in regions like Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore |
| Provider Selection | Choose providers that optimize lines to China (e.g., Bandwagon Host CN2, DMIT, etc.) |
| Testing First | Test the ping value and route traceroute of the IP before purchasing |
Cost Estimation
- VPS Cost: Approximately $5-10/month (high-quality lines may require $15-30/month)
- Initial Configuration Time: 1-2 hours
- Maintenance Cost: Relatively low (can be automated with scripts)
Tip: Tip: If you don't want to deal with network optimization issues, using a professional VPN service (like Surflare) will be a more hassle-free choice.
Method 3: Cloud Service Provider Hosting AI (Large Enterprise Solutions)
For large enterprises or scenarios with strict compliance requirements, accessing AI models through cloud service providers is the best choice.
Amazon Bedrock
Amazon Bedrock is a fully managed AI service platform launched by AWS, providing official access channels to the Claude model.
- No infrastructure management required
- Deep integration with the AWS ecosystem
- Enterprise-level security and compliance guarantees
- Supports the entire series of Claude models
📖 Official Documentation: docs.aws.amazon.com/bedrock
💰 Pricing Reference: aws.amazon.com/bedrock/pricing
Google Cloud Vertex AI
Vertex AI also provides hosting services for the Claude model.
- Native integration with Google Cloud
- Supports FedRAMP High compliance requirements
- Flexible pay-as-you-go model
- Global multi-region deployment
📖 Official Documentation: cloud.google.com/vertex-ai/docs
Applicable Scenarios
- Large enterprise application development
- Projects requiring data compliance guarantees (GDPR, SOC 2, FedRAMP, etc.)
- Large-scale API call requirements
- Integration with existing cloud infrastructure
- Need for a professional technical support team
Method 4: API Relay Service (Developer/Enterprise Solutions)
What is API Relay?
API relay services act as a proxy layer, forwarding your API requests to service providers like OpenAI and Claude, solving network access issues while providing a unified interface experience.
Solution Types
| Type | Description | Applicable Scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Hosting Service | Use an existing relay platform | Quick start, individual developers |
| Self-Built Relay Service | Deploy and maintain yourself | Enterprise-level, custom requirements |
Solution A: Third-Party Hosting Service (Recommended for Quick Start)
OpenRouter (Recommended)
OpenRouter is currently the most popular unified AI API gateway.
- 300+ Models Unified Access: One API Key accesses all mainstream models like Claude, GPT, Gemini, etc.
- OpenAI Compatible Interface: No code modification needed, just change the base URL
- Smart Routing and Fault Tolerance: Automatic failover to improve service availability
- Transparent Pricing: Consistent with original factory prices, billed by usage
📖 Official Documentation: openrouter.ai/docs
Python Usage Example:
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
base_url="https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
api_key="your-openrouter-key"
)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="anthropic/claude-sonnet-4",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)
Note: Note: Platforms like OpenRouter may still require addressing network access issues.
Solution B: Self-Built API Relay Service (Enterprise-Level Solution)
If you need complete control over data flow, have customization needs, or enterprise compliance requirements, you can choose to build your own relay service.
Cloudflare AI Gateway
Cloudflare AI Gateway provides enterprise-level AI API proxy services.
- Request caching to reduce costs
- Rate limiting and access control
- Detailed usage analytics
- Unified management of multiple vendors
📖 Official Documentation: developers.cloudflare.com/ai-gateway
Note: Challenges of Self-Built Solutions
Building your own API relay service requires consideration of the following factors:
| Server Preparation | Need to purchase and configure overseas servers (similar to self-built VPS) |
| Network Issues | Also faces challenges such as line quality, latency, and stability |
| Operational Costs | Requires ongoing maintenance of services, handling faults, updates, security, etc. |
| Technical Barriers | Requires certain backend development and operational capabilities |
| Compliance Risks | Need to assess data security and compliance requirements independently |
Tip: Recommendation: For individual developers or small teams, using hosted services like OpenRouter is more worry-free; for large enterprises considering self-building, it is recommended to combine official solutions like Amazon Bedrock or Vertex AI.
Domestic API Relay Services
For domestic developers, some third-party platforms offer convenient API relay services:
- Supports payment in RMB
- Direct connection to domestic networks
- Interfaces fully compatible with official APIs
Note: Security Reminder: When using third-party relay services, please evaluate the provider's reputation to avoid API Key leakage risks. For sensitive operations, it is recommended to use official channels.
Method 5: Cloudflare Workers Self-Built Proxy (Free Solution)
Solution Overview
Utilizing the free quota of Cloudflare Workers (100,000 requests per day), you can set up a personal API proxy service.
Implementation Steps
- Register a Cloudflare Account: Visit dash.cloudflare.com to register a free account
- Create a Worker: Create a new Worker in the Cloudflare Dashboard and deploy the proxy code
- Configure Domain Name (Optional): Bind a custom domain name to enhance access stability
Open Source Project References
- llm-proxy-on-cloudflare-workers – Multi-LLM API proxy
- Cloudflare official AI Gateway integration example
Advantages and Disadvantages
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Completely free (basic usage) | Requires some technical background |
| Highly controllable | Initial configuration is relatively complex |
| No traffic limits | May be affected by Cloudflare policies |
| Global CDN acceleration | Requires self-maintenance |
Solution Comparison Summary
| Solution | Difficulty | Cost | Stability | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN Service | ⭐ | $5-15/month | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | All users (students, professionals, freelancers, etc.) |
| Self-Built VPS | ⭐⭐⭐ | $5-30/month | ⭐⭐⭐ | Technical users, geeks |
| Cloud Service Hosting | ⭐⭐ | Pay-as-you-go | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Large enterprises, compliance scenarios |
| API Relay (Hosted) | ⭐⭐ | Pay-as-you-go | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Developers, product integration |
| API Relay (Self-Built) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Server + Maintenance | ⭐⭐⭐ | Medium to large enterprises, custom needs |
| Cloudflare Workers | ⭐⭐⭐ | Free | ⭐⭐⭐ | Technical enthusiasts, learning and practice |
Final Recommendations
For Most Users (Recommended First Choice)
Whether you are a student, a professional, a freelancer, or a remote worker, if you want to use AI services like Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini smoothly, the VPN solution is the simplest and most hassle-free choice—no technical background required, just download and install to use.
Recommended: Surflare VPN – Optimized for AI users, supports multiple platforms, stable and reliable.
For Developers
If you need to integrate AI capabilities into your applications via API, the OpenRouter + VPN combination is both economical and flexible.
For Large Enterprise Users
For large enterprises with strict compliance requirements, data security needs, and large-scale deployment scenarios, it is strongly recommended to adopt the official hosting services of Amazon Bedrock or Google Cloud Vertex AI. These solutions provide:
- Enterprise-level SLA service guarantees
- Comprehensive data privacy and compliance certifications (GDPR, SOC 2, FedRAMP, etc.)
- Seamless integration with existing cloud infrastructure
- Professional technical support teams
- Flexible billing and cost management
Reference Links
Official Documentation
- Anthropic Claude API Documentation
- OpenAI API Reference
- Google Gemini API
- Amazon Bedrock User Guide
- Cloudflare AI Gateway
Recommended Resources
- OpenRouter – Unified AI API Gateway
This article is for technical exchange and learning purposes only. Please comply with local laws and regulations and the service terms of each platform.
