What is the difference between Groq and OpenRouter?

Groq and OpenRouter are both cloud GPU providers offering different pricing models, features, and GPU availability. Use our comparison tool to see real-time pricing and feature differences.

Which is cheaper: Groq or OpenRouter?

Pricing varies by GPU model and usage requirements. Check our real-time comparison table to find the best deals for your specific needs.

Can I switch between Groq and OpenRouter?

Yes, both providers offer flexible cloud GPU services. However, consider factors like data transfer costs, setup time, and specific features when switching between providers.

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Groq vs OpenRouter

Compare LLM inference API pricing between Groq and OpenRouter. Find the best rates for AI training, inference, and ML workloads.

Groq

Provider 1

Models Available

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OpenRouter

Provider 2

205

Models Available

Visit Website

Comparison Overview

205

Total LLM Models

Groq Models

205

OpenRouter Models

Direct Comparisons

LLM API Pricing Comparison

Total models: 205Both available: 4Groq: 4OpenRouter: 205

Showing 15 of 205 models

Prices per 1M tokens · Last updated: 9/10/2026, 3:40:39 AM

Model ↑	Groq	OpenRouter	Input Diff ↕
Claude 3 Haiku Anthropic	Not available	$0.250 in $1.25 out	—
Claude 4 Opus Anthropic	Not available	$15.00 in $75.00 out	—
Claude 4 Sonnet Anthropic	Not available	$3.00 in $15.00 out	—
Claude Fable 5 Anthropic	Not available	$10.00 in $50.00 out	—
Claude Fable 5.1 Anthropic	Not available	$10.00 in $50.00 out	—
Claude Haiku 4.5 Anthropic	Not available	$1.00 in $5.00 out	—
Claude Opus 4.1 Anthropic	Not available	$15.00 in $75.00 out	—
Claude Opus 4.5 Anthropic	Not available	$5.00 in $25.00 out	—
Claude Opus 4.6 Anthropic	Not available	$5.00 in $25.00 out	—
Claude Opus 4.7 Anthropic	Not available	$5.00 in $25.00 out	—
Claude Opus 4.8 Anthropic	Not available	$5.00 in $25.00 out	—
Claude Opus 5 Anthropic	Not available	$5.00 in $25.00 out	—
Claude Sonnet 4.5 Anthropic	Not available	$3.00 in $15.00 out	—
Claude Sonnet 4.6 Anthropic	Not available	$3.00 in $15.00 out	—
Claude Sonnet 5 Anthropic	Not available	$2.00 in $10.00 out	—

Features Comparison

Groq

LPU-Powered Inference
Custom Language Processing Units run inference, with 256 LPUs and 128 GB of on-chip SRAM per rack
OpenAI-Compatible API
Drop-in replacement for the OpenAI API at api.groq.com/openai/v1, including a Responses API
Layered Platform
GroqMetal bare-metal infrastructure, GroqCore inference stack, and GroqAssured enterprise governance, each including the layers below
Multimodal Endpoints
Text generation plus speech-to-text, text-to-speech, OCR and image recognition, and content moderation models
Agentic Systems and Built-In Tools
Compound systems that combine models with web search, code execution, remote MCP tools, and Google Workspace connectors
Service Tiers
Performance, flex, and batch processing tiers, plus prompt caching, structured outputs, and LoRA inference

OpenRouter

Unified Model Access
Single API endpoint for 300+ models from dozens of providers
Automatic Fallback Routing
Requests automatically route to the best available provider for each model
OpenAI-Compatible API
Drop-in replacement using the OpenAI SDK format
Provider Optimization
Routes to the fastest or cheapest provider based on your preference
Usage-Based Pricing
Pay per token with no minimum commitments or subscriptions
Prompt Caching
Reduced pricing for cached input tokens on supported models

Pros & Cons

Groq

Advantages

High published token speeds (500 t/s on GPT-OSS 120B, 1,000 t/s on GPT-OSS 20B)
OpenAI-compatible API for easy integration
Competitive pricing for open-weight models
Free tier available for testing

Considerations

Small model catalog: production text models are limited to OpenAI GPT-OSS
Focus on inference only - no training capabilities
Several models are preview-only and may be discontinued at short notice

OpenRouter

Advantages

Largest selection of models through a single API
Transparent per-token pricing with no markup on many models
Automatic failover across multiple providers
No vendor lock-in — switch models with a single parameter change

Considerations

Aggregator pricing may include a small margin on some models
Latency may be slightly higher due to routing layer
No fine-tuning or custom model training

Compute Services

Groq

OpenRouter

Pricing Options

Groq

Pay-per-token

Token-based pricing with separate input/output rates; audio models are billed per hour and speech models per character

Batch and flex processing

Alternative service tiers for throughput-tolerant or bursty workloads instead of the standard on-demand tier

Enterprise capacity

Dedicated capacity and enterprise-only models quoted through sales

Free tier

Rate-limited free access for development and testing

OpenRouter

Pay-per-token

Usage-based pricing per input and output token, varying by model

Prompt caching

Discounted rates for cached input tokens on supported models

Free models

Select open-source models available at no cost

Getting Started

Groq

Get Started

1
Create an account
Sign up at console.groq.com with email or OAuth
2
Get API key
Generate an API key from the console dashboard
3
Make API calls
Use the OpenAI-compatible endpoint with your preferred model

OpenRouter

Get Started

1
Create an account
Sign up at openrouter.ai
2
Get API key
Generate an API key from your dashboard
3
Choose a model
Browse 300+ models across text, image, audio, and video
4
Make API calls
Use OpenAI-compatible endpoints with your OpenRouter key

Support & Global Availability

Groq

Global Regions

13 data centers across four continents, including sites in the US (Liberty Lake, St Paul, Dallas, Houston), Canada (Kamloops, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Calgary), Finland, the UK, Australia, and Saudi Arabia

Support

Documentation and API reference, developer community, production readiness guides, and enterprise onboarding via sales

OpenRouter

Global Regions

Global — routes to providers across multiple regions for optimal latency

Support

Documentation, Discord community, and email support