The Clickbait Wasn’t Lying (Technically)
So you heard there’s a “free, unlimited OpenAI API” and thought: Nice, time to spam GPT-4 like there’s no tomorrow!
Well… sure. If tomorrow doesn’t involve rate limits, account logins, or payment popups.
Let’s talk about Puter.js—the sketchy genius of JavaScript tags that makes AI look like free candy… until you realize every piece gets billed to someone else.
How It Pretends to Be Magic
Here’s the pitch:
- You add one script tag to your webpage.
- Users can now talk to GPT-4, DALL·E 3, etc.
- You don’t need an API key. You don’t need a server.
- You pay nothing. Your users? Well… good luck to them.
This is what happens under the hood:
| What It Looks Like | What It Actually Does |
|---|---|
| Free AI for everyone! | Users must sign in with Puter.com |
| No API key! | Puter secretly uses their OpenAI key |
| Unlimited usage! | LOL. Free tier → payment required |
| Instant results! | Until rate limits hit like a brick wall |
The Plot Twist You Didn’t Read
- Users get a tiny free quota, then it slaps a payment screen on their face.
- If users don’t pay, the AI ghost goes poof.
- Puter controls everything—you’re basically hosting a restaurant with someone else’s food, staff, and angry customers.
- If Puter disappears tomorrow, your app turns into a potato.
How to Set It Up (a.k.a. copy-paste wizardry)
Slap this on your site:
<script src="https://js.puter.com/v2/"></script>
Boom. That’s it. You just summoned the AI spirits—until they ask for a credit card.
Then, to ask GPT stuff:
puter.ai.chat("Write me a breakup text", {
model: "gpt-4.1-nano"
}).then(console.log);
Wanna draw cursed AI art?
puter.ai.image("minions worshipping a toaster", {
model: "dall-e-3"
}).then(console.log);
Real Life Example (Try Not to Cry)
Here’s a working page:
<html>
<body>
<script src="https://js.puter.com/v2/"></script>
<script>
puter.ai.chat("What’s 1 + 1?", { model: "gpt-4.1-nano" })
.then(r => puter.print(r));
</script>
</body>
</html>
Open in browser. You’ll get an answer. But then comes the login. Then the terms. Then the “enter your payment method”.
Then your soul leaves your body.
Reality Check (aka Brutal Truth)
- “Unlimited” = 3 requests per second. After that, it goes full sloth.
- Your app depends entirely on
js.puter.com. If that site breaks, your project’s toast. - All user data goes through Puter’s servers. Say goodbye to privacy, HIPAA, and possibly your conscience.
Alternative for Control Freaks
Want to stay off Puter’s grid?
Use gpt4free and host your own shady basement AI:
git clone https://github.com/xtekky/gpt4free
cd gpt4free && npm install && npm start
Then call it like this:
fetch("http://localhost:1337/v1/chat", {
method: "POST",
body: JSON.stringify({ prompt: "Tell me why humans are doomed" })
})
Pro: No login, no payments, no judgment.
Con: You’re now in charge of everything. Good luck, sysadmin.
Links You Actually Need
- Tutorial – Free Unlimited OpenAI API
- How It Works – User Pays Model
- Bypass CORS (Hacky Trick)
- Official GitHub for Puter.js
- gpt4free GitHub (for rebels)
- Reddit Explainer (Drama Included)
Final Thought
It’s not free. It’s not unlimited. It’s not yours.
But hey—it works… until it doesn’t.
Choose wisely:
Rent a ride on Puter’s mystery train
Or build your own AI dungeon with gpt4free
Either way, you’re not walking out clean.
!