OpenRouter

About OpenRouter

OpenRouter is a unified API and web chat for reaching large language models from many providers through one endpoint and one account. Developers send requests to a single API and pick among 600+ models from 80+ providers, while OpenRouter handles routing and billing. Credits are deducted at the underlying providers' per-token prices, and the company states it adds no markup on inference pricing. Other features include activity logs with export, budgets and spend controls, and bring-your-own-key (BYOK) use of a provider's own account.

Pricing, as of November 2026: the Free plan lists 25+ free models from 4 free providers, chat and API access, and a limit of 50 requests per day on free models; buying at least 10 credits raises the free-model limit to 1,000 requests per day. Standard pay-as-you-go lists a 5.5% platform fee (the FAQ describes 5.5% with a $0.80 minimum on credit purchases, and 5% for crypto), and Business lists 8%. BYOK includes $25,000 per month without a fee, then 5%.

OpenRouter is used through the web and the API. Its terms require users to be at least 18 and prohibit child sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate imagery in uploaded content. One limitation: auto-routing, budgets and spend controls, and prompt caching are not part of the Free plan.