Last updated 06-27-2026
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OpenRouter
OpenRouter is a unified API gateway that routes requests to 400+ language models from 70+ providers through one endpoint. Developers buy credits once, pick any model by slug, and send chat completions without juggling separate API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and the rest. It serves indie builders, AI startups, and enterprise teams who want a single integration instead of managing dozens of provider relationships.
The platform runs on distributed infrastructure with automatic failover when a provider errors or goes offline. Model prices in the catalog match what providers publish directly, with no markup on inference. Pay-as-you-go accounts pay a 5.5% platform fee on credit purchases; routing and fallback only bill successful runs.
OpenRouter launched in early 2023 as the first LLM marketplace and now reports 10M+ global users and 100T monthly tokens processed. The API is OpenAI-compatible, so existing SDKs work with a base URL swap. Enterprise customers get SSO, spend controls, regional routing, zero data retention options, and unified billing across every model.
One API key reaches 400+ models across 70+ providers
Drop in the OpenAI SDK by changing the base URL
Automatic failover when a provider errors or goes offline
Billed only for successful runs when routing and fallback are enabled
Fine-grained data policies that restrict which models receive your prompts
Regional routing and zero data retention on pay-as-you-go and Enterprise
Single API covers hundreds of models without managing separate provider accounts.
Inference pricing matches provider rates with no markup on token costs.
Automatic failover and routing improve uptime when individual providers fail.
OpenAI-compatible endpoints make migration a base URL change.
Free tier is limited to 50 requests per day on free models only.
Pay-as-you-go adds a 5.5% platform fee on top of credit purchases.
Popular free models can hit provider rate limits during peak traffic.
Does OpenRouter have a free plan?
Yes. OpenRouter offers a free tier with access to 25+ free models from 4 providers, chat and API access, and a limit of 50 requests per day on free models. Paid models require purchasing credits on the pay-as-you-go plan.
How does OpenRouter pricing work?
OpenRouter has three tiers: Free (free models only), Pay-as-you-go (buy credits with a 5.5% platform fee, no minimum spend), and Enterprise (volume-based pricing with invoicing). Tokens are billed per model at the rates shown in the catalog, which match provider pricing with no markup on inference.
Is the OpenRouter API compatible with OpenAI?
Yes. OpenRouter exposes an OpenAI-compatible `/api/v1/chat/completions` endpoint. You can point the OpenAI SDK or HTTP client at `https://openrouter.ai/api/v1`, swap model slugs, and keep your existing integration code.
Does OpenRouter mark up model prices?
No. OpenRouter does not mark up provider inference pricing. The rates shown in the model catalog match what you would pay on provider websites. Pay-as-you-go users pay a 5.5% platform fee on credit purchases, not on individual token rates.
What happens when a model provider is down on OpenRouter?
OpenRouter can automatically route or fall back to alternative models when routing is enabled. You are billed only for the successful model run. Every request includes Zero Completion Insurance so failed attempts are not charged.
Does OpenRouter train on customer data?
No. OpenRouter does not train on customer data. Provider-side data retention can be disabled at the account level or per API call. Enterprise and pay-as-you-go plans also support routing exclusively to providers with zero data retention policies.