What is OpenRouter?

OpenRouter is a unified API gateway that provides access to 100+ AI models from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and more. Instead of managing multiple API keys and endpoints, you can access all models through a single interface with intelligent routing and competitive pricing.

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Prerequisites

A valid email address
Basic understanding of API concepts
Payment method for credits beyond free tier (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide

Sign Up for OpenRouter

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Generate Your API Key

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Test Your API Key

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// Example API call
const response = await fetch('https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: 'openai/gpt-3.5-turbo',
    messages: [{ role: 'user', content: 'Hello!' }]
  })
});

Supported Models

Provider	Popular Models	Use Case
OpenAI	GPT-4, GPT-3.5	General purpose
Anthropic	Claude 3	Long context
Google	Gemini Pro	Multimodal
Meta	Llama 2, Llama 3	Open source

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Rate Limits & Pricing

Free Tier

$1 free credit on signup
Access to all models
No time limit

Pay-as-you-go

Competitive pricing
No monthly fees
Usage-based billing

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Troubleshooting

API key not working?

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Rate limit errors?

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Model not available?

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Security Best Practices

Important Security Notice

Never expose your API key in client-side code, public repositories, or browser applications. Always use environment variables and server-side implementations.

Use Environment Variables

Store API keys in .env files and never commit them to version control.

Server-Side Only

Make API calls from your backend to keep keys secure.

Rotate Keys Regularly

Generate new API keys periodically and revoke old ones.

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Get Started with JobOS

How to Get a Free OpenRouter API Key