What it is
OpenRouter is a single API for more than 500 models from over 80 providers, covering text, images, video and audio. It is compatible with the OpenAI API, so most apps only need a new base URL and key. Requests can fall back to another provider when one is down, and you can set data policies that limit which providers see your prompts. There is also a web chat for comparing models.
The free plan gives 25+ free models at 50 requests a day. Paid use works by buying credits: model calls cost the provider's list price, and OpenRouter charges a 5.5% fee on credit purchases on the Standard plan. Bring-your-own-key use is free up to $25,000 of list-price inference a month.
Best for
- Switching between models from different labs without new integrations
- Keeping an app running when one provider goes down
- Trying free models before paying