Prompt-only AI API
ElseLane
If the primary fails, take the else lane. ElseLane is an AI API with failover — one key, one prompt; we classify, route, and fail over across models so your app keeps answering.
curl https://api.elselane.com/v1/answer \
-H "Authorization: Bearer el_live_..." \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"prompt":"Refactor this function for clarity"}'A multi-provider LLM router, not a model zoo
Provider outages, rate limits, and model pickers slow indie and SMB apps down. ElseLane is an automatic model failover API: send the prompt, get an answer that gets through.
Without ElseLane
Hard-code a provider. When it fails, your users see errors. Or you build failover yourself and maintain keys, chains, and billing across vendors.
With ElseLane
One key. Task-based chains. An LLM circuit breaker on each lane. Prepaid credits. Transparent attempts so you can see exactly which lane answered.
How it works
Three steps between your prompt and a durable answer.
01
Classify
We inspect the prompt and pick a task type — chat, code, reasoning, and more — without you choosing a model.
02
Route
Each task type has a provider chain tuned for cost and quality. Your request hits the primary first.
03
Fail over
If the primary errors, times out, or is circuit-open, we take the else lane automatically and keep answering.
What you get
Simple reliability for apps that need answers, not a 400-model marketplace.
Prompt-only API
A prompt-only AI API: POST a prompt, optional system message, no model picker for day-to-day use.
OpenAI-compatible shim
OpenAI compatible auto model — drop in /v1/chat/completions on api.elselane.com with model: "auto".
Prepaid credits
A prepaid AI credits API: buy $10 / $25 / $50 packs. Usage billed at estimated provider cost × 1.10 — no surprise invoices.
PII guardrails
High-risk secrets and identifiers are blocked (or redacted) before providers see them.
Transparent attempts
Responses include which provider and model answered, whether failover ran, and each attempt.
Metadata-only storage
Prompts and answers are not retained. We keep usage metadata for billing and debugging.
Simple credit packs
Prepaid AI credits API pricing: 1 credit = $0.0001. Successful answers are charged at estimated provider token cost × 1.10 (10% platform fee), rounded up. No monthly subscription required.
Verified accounts receive a small starter credit balance. See docs for billing details.
Trust by default
Prompts not stored
Request and response bodies are not retained after the call completes.
Usage metadata only
Status, model, provider, credits, and latency for dashboards and support.
Export or delete
Export usage CSV or delete your account from the dashboard anytime.
FAQ
Quick answers. Full list on the FAQ page.
Do I pick the model?
No — this is a prompt-only AI API. Send a prompt; ElseLane classifies and routes. Use model: "auto" for OpenAI compatible auto model calls.
What if a provider is down?
ElseLane is an AI API with failover: we take the else lane along the task chain, with an LLM circuit breaker on unhealthy providers, plus an attempts list.
Are prompts stored?
No. We store usage metadata only (status, model, credits, latency).
Keep the else lane AI open
Create an account, grab an API key, and ship answers that survive provider hiccups.