💸 Get GPT-4 & Other AI Models for FREE via GitHub Marketplace APIs (2025 Edition)

Why pay for AI when open devs are giving it away?

Artificial Intelligence has revolutionized how we build apps, write content, and code smarter. But using models like GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, or open-source LLMs often comes with a cost — unless you know where to look. 😏

Luckily, the GitHub Marketplace quietly became a goldmine for developers looking to access AI models via API — some completely free or generously trialed. Whether you're a hacker, startup founder, or AI tinkerer, this guide is your ticket to using top-tier AI without burning your wallet.

🚀 Why Use GitHub Marketplace for AI APIs?

🧠 Access to powerful models like GPT-4, Claude, Mistral, Llama, etc.
🆓 Free tiers or unlimited usage depending on provider
🛠️ Easy integration with code/projects via REST or SDKs
👨‍💻 Mostly built by devs for devs — transparent and open-source in many cases

🔥 Top Free or Open AI API Services on GitHub Marketplace

Here are the top picks that actually work, many with free plans or open-source backends:

1. FireAPI.ai - GPT-4, Claude, Gemini in one place (with free tier!)

🔗 FireAPI on GitHub

Supports: GPT-3.5/4, Claude 3, Gemini Pro, Mistral, Llama
Free Tier: 1K+ API calls/month
Simple RESTful API
Great for quick AI app prototyping

2. LM Studio + Ollama APIs

🔗 LM Studio GitHub

Runs models locally (e.g., LLaMA 3, Mistral, Phi-3)
100% free and offline
Built-in API server
Great for building secure/offline AI apps

3. OpenRouter.ai - Pay-as-you-go Gateway

🔗 OpenRouter GitHub

One API to access 20+ models
Free test tokens or pay-as-you-go
Supports GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, Mistral, Mixtral, etc.
Dev-friendly API with headers for model switching

4. HuggingFace Transformers + Text Generation Inference

🔗 HuggingFace TGI

Run open models like Falcon, Mistral, or Llama 3
Host on your server (or use HuggingFace Spaces free)
Open-source, customizable
Ideal for power users

5. LibreChat (Self-hosted ChatGPT UI)

🔗 LibreChat GitHub

Self-host your own ChatGPT-like experience
Plug into OpenAI, Claude, Google, HuggingFace, or local LLMs
Free, open-source & beautiful UI

🧠 Bonus: Hidden Freebies & Model Gateways

🔍 OpenPlayground — test models via UI + API
🐍 FastAPI-LLM Boilerplates — create your own gateway
🧪 Some providers like Groq, Together.ai, and Perplexity offer free rate-limited access

💡 How to Use These APIs in Your Project

Here's a generic example using fetch in JavaScript:

fetch("https://api.fireapi.ai/v1/completions", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: "gpt-4",
    messages: [{ role: "user", content: "How do I get free AI APIs?" }]
  })
})
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data));

📢 Final Thoughts: AI is Free—If You Know Where to Look

Thanks to the GitHub community, AI doesn’t have to be expensive. From self-hosted LLMs to community-backed APIs, you can integrate powerful AI models in your app without a credit card.

So next time someone says “GPT-4 is expensive” — send them this article 😉

Sh Raj @sh20raj