OpenRouter: a unified API for multiple AI models

OpenRouter gives developers a common model catalog and API layer for selecting AI models and providers. Its website currently lists text, image, video and audio models, with API, client SDK and Agent SDK integration options. Model capabilities, prices, context limits, regional availability and provider policies differ. Check the model catalog, official documentation and pricing page before integrating.

Main capabilities

• Unified API and catalog: Discover and call available models through one API. The website lets you compare descriptions and current prices; an API endpoint can also return model listings.
• OpenAI SDK compatibility: Official docs provide an OpenAI SDK integration path. Migration still requires configuring OpenRouter's API base URL, key and model identifier, and checking that the target model supports your requested parameters.
• Client and Agent SDKs: JavaScript/TypeScript and Python client SDKs are documented. The Agent SDK supports building workflows with tool calls, conversation loops and state management. Refer to versioned docs for exact interfaces.
• Model and provider routing: Routing and fallback options can help address model or provider availability. Behavior depends on request settings, endpoints and plan; it does not mean every request automatically chooses the lowest-cost model or is guaranteed to continue without interruption.
• Model-based billing: Inference is charged at the listed rate for the selected model. Plans may differ in platform fees, model access, budgeting and other features. Rates and plan details can change, so check current terms before sending requests.
• Data policy controls: OpenRouter documents separate data handling practices for each model provider and settings to filter providers at account or request level. Check both the selected provider policy and your account privacy settings before sending sensitive material.

Getting started

1. Create an account and review current plans, the model catalog, billing details and data policies.
2. Create an API key in the dashboard and store it in an environment variable or secrets manager. Do not commit it to source control, embed it in a client app or print it in logs.
3. Select a model and review its input, output, tool-use and multimodal requirements. For an OpenAI SDK integration, follow the official instructions for baseURL, API key and model name.
4. Test the request format, billing records, error handling and optional fallbacks with non-sensitive data before using production content.
5. Set budgets or key limits and review usage, billing and provider policies regularly.

Use cases and limits

OpenRouter can suit developers who want to manage several model choices through one API. It can support model comparisons, chat or agent workflows, and compatible image or audio models. Tool calling, structured output and multimodal features depend on the selected model and endpoint. A unified interface reduces some integration differences but does not remove model-specific parameters, prices, limits or behavior. It does not guarantee fixed latency, accuracy or availability.

Requests are routed to the selected model and provider. OpenRouter's own data settings and each provider's policies are separate parts of the data path. Before sending code, customer records or personal information, review retention, training use, regional processing and logging options. Validate AI outputs in your application. Costs can vary with model and service conditions, so include error handling and fallback behavior in cost estimates and tests.

Frequently asked questions

What is OpenRouter?

It is a multi-model API platform with a model catalog, unified API and developer tools such as SDKs. Current models and endpoints are listed in the catalog.

Can I use the OpenAI SDK?

Official docs describe a compatible integration. You generally configure OpenRouter's baseURL, API key and model name, then confirm that the model supports the request parameters you need.

How is usage billed?

Model inference uses the rate shown for that model; plans may have separate platform fees or features. Check live pricing and account billing details.

How is request data handled?

OpenRouter and each model provider have separate data policies. Review logging, data-use and provider-filter settings in your account, as well as the selected provider's retention rules.