What it does
A hosted, OpenAI-compatible gateway for accessing a changing catalog of models through one API surface.
Your server sends a request to the hosted OpenRouter API with an API key and model identifier.
OpenRouter resolves the model route and sends the request to the selected upstream model provider.
The response, usage and provider behavior return through the hosted gateway.
Who it may fit
Choose based on the workflow and trust boundary, not only the feature list.
Good fit for
- Fast experiments across multiple hosted models
- Applications that want one compatible API surface
- Comparing models before committing to one provider
Verify before using
- Prompts and outputs may pass through multiple provider systems; review current privacy and retention policies.
- Keep the key server-side and use spending limits, model allow-lists and request budgets.
- Model identifiers, pricing and capabilities change; do not hard-code assumptions without monitoring.
Setup outline
Use this as a mental checklist, then follow the official documentation for the current install and configuration details.
from openai import OpenAI
import os
client = OpenAI(
base_url="https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
api_key=os.environ["OPENROUTER_API_KEY"],
)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="your-approved-model",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Say OK"}],
)Official sources
These links are the authority for current installation, capabilities, releases and security notices.
This editorial page was reviewed on 2026-09-26. Project details may change between reviews.
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