OpenRouter
Free QuotasA community-focused router for LLMs. Offers a specific list of truly free models with shared quotas.
Rate Limit
Max Context
Cost
$0
.00
Quick Start
API Endpoint
https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
Why Choose OpenRouter?
-
Free Quotas - No hidden costs or credit card required
-
Instant Access - Get started in seconds with API key
-
Generous Limits - Perfect for development & production
-
16 Models - Choose the perfect model for your task
Example: Making Your First Request
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
api_key="YOUR_OPENROUTER_KEY",
base_url="https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"
)
response = client.chat.completions.create(
model="google/gemini-2.0-flash-exp:free",
messages=[
{"role": "user", "content": "What is OpenRouter?"}
]
)
print(response.choices[0].message.content)Free Models
| Model Name | ID | Context | Capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google: Gemini 2.0 Flash (free) |
google/gemini-2.0-flash-exp:free
|
1,000,000 |
|
| Google: Gemini 2.0 Pro (free) |
google/gemini-2.0-pro-exp-02-05:free
|
1,000,000 |
|
| Meta: Llama 3.3 70B Instruct (free) |
meta-llama/llama-3.3-70b-instruct:free
|
128,000 |
|
| NVIDIA: Llama 3.1 Nemotron 70B (free) |
nvidia/llama-3.1-nemotron-70b-instruct:free
|
128,000 |
|
| DeepSeek: R1 (free) |
deepseek/deepseek-r1:free
|
128,000 |
|
| DeepSeek: R1 Distill Llama 70B (free) |
deepseek/deepseek-r1-distill-llama-70b:free
|
128,000 |
|
| Mistral: Small 3 (free) |
mistralai/mistral-small-24b-instruct-2501:free
|
32,000 |
|
| Qwen 2.5 7B Instruct (free) |
qwen/qwen-2.5-7b-instruct:free
|
32,000 |
|
| Qwen 2.5 VL 72B Instruct (free) |
qwen/qwen-2.5-vl-72b-instruct:free
|
32,000 |
|
| Microsoft: Phi-3 Medium (free) |
microsoft/phi-3-medium-128k-instruct:free
|
128,000 |
|
| Microsoft: Phi-3 Mini (free) |
microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct:free
|
128,000 |
|
| DeepSeek: V4 Flash (free) |
deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:free
|
1,000,000 |
|
| Meta: Llama 4 Maverick (free) |
meta-llama/llama-4-maverick:free
|
128,000 |
|
| Meta: Llama 4 Scout (free) |
meta-llama/llama-4-scout:free
|
128,000 |
|
| OpenAI: gpt-oss-120b (free) |
openai/gpt-oss-120b:free
|
128,000 |
|
| NVIDIA: Nemotron 3 Ultra (free, promo) |
nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra:free
|
1,000,000 |
|
Current Limits
Request Limits
-
Rate Limit20 requests/minute
-
Daily Limit50 requests/day (up to 1000 with $10 topup)
Token Limits
Throughput
Monthly Cap
Key Features
Common Use Cases
Accessing free models from multiple providers
Model comparison and A/B testing
Fallback for high-availability apps
Exploring different model capabilities
Known Limitations
- Limits depend on account history/topup
- Community key models
- Free models have lower priority during peak demand
- Some models may become unavailable
Quick Start Guide
Visit https://openrouter.ai/
Sign in with Google or GitHub
Navigate to Keys section
Create a new API key
Use with OpenAI SDK (change base_url)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an API key?
Getting your OpenRouter API key is simple:
- Visit the official OpenRouter website
- Sign up for a free account (no credit card required)
- Navigate to the API section in your dashboard
- Generate your API key and start using it immediately
Are there free quotas?
Yes! OpenRouter offers a generous free tier with no credit card required. Check the provider's website for current terms and conditions regarding free tier availability and duration.
What happens if I exceed the free limits?
If you reach the rate limit, your requests will be temporarily throttled. The limits reset automatically after the specified time period. You can always monitor your usage in the provider's dashboard.
Is my data secure?
OpenRouter takes security seriously. All API communications are encrypted via HTTPS. Check their privacy policy and terms of service for detailed information about data handling and retention policies.
Start Building with OpenRouter Today
Join thousands of developers using OpenRouter to build amazing AI-powered applications. Get started in less than 2 minutes.