OpenRouter
A unified interface for LLMs
Last reviewed Apr 4, 2026
OpenRouter provides a unified API for accessing hundreds of AI models from multiple providers. It aggregates models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Mistral, and many others, offering a single endpoint with automatic fallback routing and provider optimization.
LLM API Pricing
Pay-per-token pricing. Prices shown per 1M tokens.
Prices last updated: August 19, 2026
| Model | Input/1M | Output/1M | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.010 | $0.030 | ||||
| $0.017 | $0.112 | ||||
| $0.019 | $0.030 | ||||
| $0.021 | $0.063 | ||||
| $0.027 | $0.201 | ||||
| $0.030 | $0.130 | ||||
| $0.030 | $0.170 | ||||
| $0.035 | $0.140 | ||||
| $0.037 | $0.150 | ||||
| $0.050 | $0.080 | ||||
OpenRouter pricing by model
Input, output, and batch rates, plus alternatives, for one model at a time.
Pros & Cons
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
- Supports prompt caching for cost savings
- Free tier available for select models
Limitations
- 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
Key Features
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
Pricing Options
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Availability & Support
Regions
Global — routes to providers across multiple regions for optimal latency
Support
Documentation, Discord community, and email support
Getting 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
Compare Providers
Find the best prices for the same GPUs and models from other providers