Cerebras Inference

What it does

Cerebras Inference takes text prompts and chat messages through an OpenAI-compatible API and returns generated text completions from supported open-weight models such as GPT OSS 120B and Qwen 3.8 27B. Requests are sent to the Cerebras endpoint with an API key, and developers can switch an existing OpenAI-based integration over with two code changes, according to the homepage.

Developers use the API to prototype chat, reasoning and agent workflows with supported open-weight models. The quickstart provides Python, JavaScript and direct HTTP examples, while the Cloud Console offers a playground for testing prompts. Existing OpenAI-compatible integrations can be adapted by changing the endpoint and credentials. Model selection, context limits and account capacity still need to be checked for the intended workload.

Cerebras Inference suits developers who can manage API keys and evaluate model outputs. The Developer tier is intended for experimentation; production capacity is arranged through Enterprise. A one-time $5 introductory credit requires a payment card and expires after 30 days. Access pauses when that credit is exhausted unless the user separately purchases pay-as-you-go credits. Teams should confirm production terms, model availability and expected traffic before deploying a customer-facing application.

What it can do

• OpenAI API-compatible chat completions endpoint
• Access to open-weight models including GPT OSS 120B and Qwen 3.8 27B
• Playground in the Cloud Console for trying prompts without setup
• Official Python and Node.js SDKs plus direct cURL calls
• Model catalog for selecting supported models by use case
• Dedicated Enterprise tier with higher throughput, custom model weights, and uptime guarantees

Works with

• AWS Marketplace
• OpenRouter
• Hugging Face Hub
• Vercel

Example workflows

Add fast inference to an existing OpenAI-style app

Illustrative example. Input: an app already calling an OpenAI-compatible chat endpoint. Steps: create an API key in the Cloud Console, change the base URL and model ID per the documentation, and send requests. Output: chat completions returned from a supported model such as qwen-3.8-27b.

Prototype a reasoning or agent loop in the playground

Illustrative example. Input: a prompt or multi-step agent instruction typed into the Cloud Console playground. Steps: select a supported model, run prompts interactively, then move the working prompt into SDK code. Output: a tested prompt ready for an application.

Before you choose

• Developer is for experimentation; arrange production access through Enterprise.
• The one-time $5 credit requires a card and expires after 30 days; paid credits require a separate purchase.
• Model availability, context limits and capacity affect deployment.

Listed under

• Coding
• Sandboxes and infrastructure
• AI inference
• API
• Developers
• Developer tools
• Enterprise
• Enterprise AI

Get started

Sign up, create an API key, and optionally start with the free $5 credit after adding a payment method.

1. Sign up or log in at the Cloud Console and create an API key under API Keys.
2. Set CEREBRAS_API_KEY as an environment variable in your shell.
3. Install the Python (cerebras_cloud_sdk) or Node.js (@cerebras/cerebras_cloud_sdk) SDK, or call the endpoint directly with cURL.

Developer GPT OSS 120B is listed at $0.35 per million input tokens and $0.75 per million output tokens. Other models have different rates. A $5 introductory credit requires a card and expires after 30 days; it is not an ongoing free tier. Enterprise production terms require a quote.

Source: cerebras.ai/pricing, checked 29 Oct 2026. Prices can change; check before you buy.

Sources for this overview

Product pages, documentation, and pricing checked 29 Oct 2026. Each source supports part of the overview; availability and prices can change.

• Fastest AI Inference Cloud and API | Cerebras ↗www.cerebras.ai
• Cerebras Inference Pricing | API and Enterprise Plans ↗www.cerebras.ai
• Quickstart - Cerebras Inference ↗inference-docs.cerebras.ai

Company website

cerebras.ai: product, pricing and policy pages

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knowledge_base

Last checked 29 Oct 2026. Every field keeps its source and date; unknown means we couldn’t confirm it.