How to Reduce OpenClaw API Costs by 40-60%
If you're spending $100-600+/month on OpenClaw API calls, you're probably paying Opus prices for tasks that Haiku can handle just fine. Here's how to fix that in 60 seconds.
The Problem: Every Call Uses Your Most Expensive Model
OpenClaw sends every request to whatever model you have configured, usually Claude Opus or Sonnet. But look at what a typical session actually does:
Task
% of calls
Needs Opus?
File reads
~30%
No, Haiku is fine
Status checks
~15%
No, Haiku is fine
Simple code review
~20%
Sonnet works
Complex reasoning
~15%
Yes, keep Opus
Architecture
~10%
Yes, keep Opus
Other simple tasks
~10%
No, Haiku is fine
~65% of your API calls don't need an expensive model. That's where the 40-60% savings come from.
The Solution: Intelligent Model Routing
RelayPlane is a local proxy that sits between OpenClaw and the Anthropic API. It analyzes each request and routes it to the cheapest model that can handle it well.
$
npm install -g @relayplane/proxy$
relayplane init$
relayplane start$
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:4100$
openclaw # That's it. You're saving money.Real Cost Savings Numbers
Light use ($50/mo)
Save $20-30/mo
Medium use ($200/mo)
Save $80-120/mo
Heavy use ($600/mo)
Save $240-360/mo
What You Don't Lose
Complex reasoning tasks still use Opus/Sonnet
If a cheap model fails, it automatically retries with a better one
Telemetry is on by default (only anonymous metadata). Your prompts go directly to providers.
Zero code changes, just one environment variable
Falls back to direct API if the proxy has any issues
MIT licensed, you own it forever
Stop overpaying for file reads
Free tier available. Pro saves even more with Relay Network intelligence routing.