Aider uses OPENAI_API_BASE and OPENAI_API_KEY for any OpenAI-compatible endpoint.
export OPENAI_API_BASE=https://api.fikraapi.co.ke/v1 export OPENAI_API_KEY=YOUR_FIKRA_KEY aider --model openai/deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017
cd into a repo and run the command above, then ask aider to explain one file.
Default model: deepseek-v4.1-flash-1017. Prices come from the live catalog.
| Input | $0.05 / 1M |
| Cached input | $0.0075 / 1M |
| Output | $0.15 / 1M |
Repeated prompt prefixes are billed at the cached rate. Cached input can never cost more than fresh input.
While the window is open, model deepseek-v4-1-flash-economy-free is free. Check live availability.
The key is missing, revoked, or has a leading space. Paste it again from the dashboard and use the fk_live_ value.
The base URL usually has an extra /chat/completions. Use exactly https://api.fikraapi.co.ke/v1.
The model ID is case sensitive. Copy it from /models or the snippet on the dashboard.
You hit the account rate limit. Free accounts allow 30 requests per minute and 300 per day. Any top-up raises the limits.
Source used for this guide: https://aider.chat/docs/llms/openai-compat.html. If the tool changes its settings, open an issue and we will update this page.
More guides: all setup guides. Measured reliability: public stats. Prices: pricing. Free model: free DeepSeek API.