The npm-native OpenRouter alternative for Node.js developers
RelayPlane is a local-first AI proxy that installs in seconds with npm install -g — no Go binary, no Python dependency, no cloud account required. It runs entirely on your machine, routes requests intelligently to cut costs, and works out of the box with Claude Code and any OpenAI-compatible tool. MIT licensed so you own what you run.
Up and running in 30 seconds
- 1
Install the proxy
npm install -g @relayplane/proxy - 2
Initialize your config
relayplane init - 3
Start routing
relayplane start
RelayPlane vs OpenRouter vs Bifrost
| Feature | RelayPlane | OpenRouter | Bifrost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install method | npm install -g | Cloud API (no install) | Go binary / Docker |
| Node.js native | |||
| Local-first | |||
| Cost intelligence | |||
| Claude Code compatible | Partial | ||
| MIT license |
Why Node.js native matters
Zero runtime friction
If you already have Node.js, you have everything. No Go toolchain, no Python venv, no Docker daemon. One npm install and you're done.
Scriptable from day one
Extend RelayPlane with plain JavaScript. Write custom routing rules, cost hooks, or integrations without leaving your existing stack.
Claude Code ready
Set ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL to localhost and every Claude Code session routes through RelayPlane automatically. Cost tracking just works.
Model pricing reference
RelayPlane uses live provider pricing to make routing decisions. No markup — you pay providers directly with your own API keys.
| Model | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-4o | $2.50 / M tokens | $10.00 / M tokens |
| Claude 3.5 Sonnet | $3.00 / M tokens | $15.00 / M tokens |
Prices as of March 2026. Verify on each provider's official pricing page.