Free Tier · verified Aug 11, 2026
OpenRouter: Free-model router and zero-cost model variants
OpenRouter offers a free router plus :free model variants through one API. It is useful for experiments and low-volume apps, but availability, latency, and the selected model can change.
PrototypingModel TestingOpenai Compatible
What you actually get
- Eligibility
- OpenRouter account holders; limits depend on whether the account has purchased credits.
- Rate and usage limits
- The free-model cap is account-wide. OpenRouter's limit page is authoritative because caps can change with account credit history.
- Models
- openrouter/free, Models ending in :free
- Card requirement
- no
- Regions
- Global
- After the free allowance
- Wait for the daily reset, purchase credits to change account limits, or use paid models.
- Data and privacy catch
- Provider routing and data policies differ by model; use OpenRouter's provider controls for privacy-sensitive workloads.
Do not treat this as guaranteed capacity
The provider describes this access as experimental, rotating, or subject to change. Build a fallback before using it in anything important.