AI Coding Tools Complete Guide: Use Cursor, Cline & Aider with One API Key

The Problem In 2026, AI coding tools are essential. Cursor, Cline, Aider, Continue... but each requires separate API keys and different configurations. This guide shows you how to use one API key across all AI coding tools , accessing 624+ models and switching freely. Why an API Gateway? Problem Example Key management chaos Separate keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek Scattered billing Different dashboards per provider Per-tool config Set up keys separately in Cursor and Cline Model switching friction Changing providers means changing SDKs We'll use Crazyrouter — fully OpenAI-compatible, 624+ models, one key. Common Setup # Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc export OPENAI_API_KEY = "sk-your-crazyrouter-key" export OPENAI_API_BASE = "https://crazyrouter.com/v1" export OPENAI_BASE_URL = "https://crazyrouter.com/v1" 1. Cursor Open Cursor → Settings → Models Enter API key in OpenAI API Key Set Override OpenAI Base URL to https://crazyrouter.com/v1 Add models, save Recommended: Use Case