What SwiftRelay records from each Cursor call
When you connect Cursor to SwiftRelay, the dashboard gives you a clear view of what your calls consume. Each request is listed with its token usage and its cost, so you can see how much a particular call used instead of guessing from a monthly bill. That transparency is the practical heart of the SwiftRelay experience: you pay per token, and the usage list shows the cost attached to each call.
SwiftRelay is a pay-per-token API relay, not a package you buy for the month. There is no monthly fee and nothing to subscribe to. You top up a balance, and each call deducts only what it used. If a request is short, the deduction is small. If a request is long, the deduction reflects the larger token count. This approach also lets you compare the cost of different working styles without committing to a fixed plan.
You do not need to wait for a reporting cycle to understand the balance. The usage area shows tokens and cost per call, while the top-up options let you decide how much to add. New accounts receive $0.22 in sign-up gift credit, which gives you a small starting balance to try the connection.
For example, a Cursor session that sends one million input tokens and receives one million output tokens on GPT-6.1 Sol would use $0.1736 plus $0.8542, or $1.0278 in total. This is an example based on the current SwiftRelay pricing page, not a quoted price for a fixed bundle. The actual charge depends on the tokens recorded for your real calls.
How Cursor connects to the SwiftRelay endpoint
Cursor uses SwiftRelay through the OpenAI-compatible endpoint, with a swft_ key as the API key. The setup is designed for a quick start: connect in minutes by copying three lines and running them. Once the key is in place, you can choose from GPT and DeepSeek models in Cursor, then watch the resulting calls appear in your usage list.
The API host is https://api.fastapirelay.com. Your swft_ key is created in your SwiftRelay account, and the same key format is used when you point Cursor at the compatible endpoint. Because the connection follows the OpenAI-compatible route, Cursor pairs with GPT, DeepSeek and the other remaining models available through SwiftRelay.
Your account can hold up to 20 live API keys. That limit gives you room to separate keys by project or by working habit. A separate key for a Cursor workspace can make it easier to see which activity belongs to which setup, while the dashboard keeps the token and cost information for each call in one place.
There is no need to install a special billing package or buy a subscription to use SwiftRelay. Top up first, connect the key, and make a call. The usage list then shows the tokens and cost for that request, creating a simple loop: connect, use, check, and top up again when needed.
Choosing a priced model for everyday Cursor work
SwiftRelay lists current prices per 1M tokens, so you can compare models before directing a Cursor task to one of them. The available choices in the catalog include DeepSeek V4 Flash, DeepSeek V4 Pro, GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol. Each model has separate figures for input tokens, output tokens and cache reads, which makes the final call cost easier to understand.
For DeepSeek V4 Flash, the current figures are $0.2639 for input, $1.06 for output and $0.006944 for a cache read. DeepSeek V4 Pro is listed at $1.17 for input, $3.51 for output and $0.0389 for a cache read.
GPT-6 Astra is shown at $0.6597 for input, $3.28 for output and $0.0653 for a cache read. GPT-6.1 Sol is shown at $0.1736 for input, $0.8542 for output and $0.0347 for a cache read. These are per-token rates, so the cost recorded for a Cursor call follows the amount of work that call actually consumes.
As an example, one million input tokens, one million output tokens and one million cache-read tokens on DeepSeek V4 Flash would total $1.330844: $0.2639 plus $1.06 plus $0.006944. Another example using GPT-6.1 Sol for one million input tokens and one million output tokens would total $1.0278. These examples show how the published rates combine; they are not fixed charges or prepaid bundles.
How top-ups, refunds and rewards fit around your balance
SwiftRelay keeps the money side straightforward too. The available top-up amounts are $1.39, $6.94, $13.89, $27.78, $69.44 and $138.89. A smaller top-up is useful for a first test, while a larger one gives you more room for sustained Cursor sessions. Either way, calls deduct from the balance according to their recorded token usage.
If you have unused credit, you can request a refund within 11 days of the top-up. The refund takes into account what was used and the payment fee, so it reflects the actual state of the balance rather than returning the original top-up amount unchanged.
SwiftRelay also offers referral rewards. You receive 14% of each top-up made by someone you invited, and 3% from the people they invite in turn. Rewards can be moved into your balance, or withdrawn once you reach the $4.86 minimum. Moving them into the balance keeps the reward ready for the next Cursor call.
Support is available through Messages in the dashboard, where a login is required. There is no support email to hunt for. If a question concerns a call, the usage list gives you the token counts and cost to include in the message, which helps make the conversation specific from the start.
Putting SwiftRelay to work in your Cursor routine
The quickest path is a small one. Create your SwiftRelay account, claim the $0.22 sign-up gift credit, and add a top-up that suits the amount of work you expect to try. Copy the configuration into Cursor using the API host and your swft_ key, then send a request. When the response arrives, open the usage list and check the tokens and cost recorded for that call.
That first check is valuable because it connects the abstract idea of per-token billing to a real result. You can see what the request used, compare it with the model rates, and decide whether to keep the same model or try another one for the next task. You can also watch how the balance changes as you work.
There is no fixed subscription to keep in step with your activity, and no monthly commitment to manage. The balance follows your usage, the top-up options stay clear, and the refund window gives you a defined route if unused credit remains. For questions, the dashboard is the place to go through Messages.
SwiftRelay is ready for a fast first lap: connect Cursor, make a call, and read the cost on the usage list. Sign up for SwiftRelay at fastapirelay.com, top up your balance, and put your next Cursor request on the clock with per-token pricing and clear call records.