OpenRouter

About OpenRouter

OpenRouter provides a unified API gateway that aggregates access to over 500 large language models from more than 60 providers. It automatically routes requests to the optimal model based on price, performance, and uptime, ensuring cost efficiency and reliability for AI-powered applications.

<problem>Developers and enterprises must manage separate API keys, billing, and integration code for dozens of large language model providers, leading to vendor lock‑in, inconsistent pricing, and reliability challenges.</problem> <solution>OpenRouter provides a single, unified API that aggregates access to over 500 models from more than 60 providers. The platform routes each request to the most appropriate model based on price, performance, and uptime, automatically falling back to alternate providers if one service is unavailable. By handling billing, credit management, and routing intelligence centrally, OpenRouter removes the need for developers to maintain multiple provider contracts. The service runs at the edge, adding only ~25 ms latency, and offers fine‑grained data‑policy controls to ensure prompts are sent only to trusted models. Pricing is transparent through a credit‑based system with a 5 % commission on inference spend, allowing customers to keep costs low while benefiting from higher availability and performance.</solution> <features> - Unified API gateway exposing 500+ LLMs from 60+ providers via a single endpoint - Automatic model routing optimized for price, latency, and reliability; includes fallback to alternate providers - Edge‑deployed infrastructure with ~25 ms added latency for fast responses - Credit‑based billing with a 5 % commission on inference spend; supports pay‑as‑you‑go usage - Custom data‑policy engine that restricts routing to approved providers for compliance needs - Real‑time token usage dashboards (12 T monthly tokens) and model ranking insights - Fully OpenAI‑compatible SDKs and easy API‑key generation for quick integration </features> <target_audience>Developers building AI‑powered applications and enterprise teams that require multi‑model access, centralized billing, and compliance‑ready routing.</target_audience> <revenue_model>OpenRouter charges a 5 % commission on all inference spend that flows through its platform and sells usage credits to customers on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis.</revenue_model> <traction>By May 2025 the company reported $5 M in annualized revenue and $8 M in monthly customer spend, equating to roughly $400 K in monthly revenue. It processes over 8.4 trillion tokens per month and has surpassed $100 M in annualized inference spend, serving more than 4.2 M global users.</traction> <sources> - https://sacra.com/c/openrouter/ - https://www.ainvest.com/news/ai-startup-openrouter-raises-40-million-valued-500-million-2506/ - https://openrouter.ai/ - https://siliconangle.com/2025/06/25/openrouter-nabs-40m-funding-ai-inference-api/ - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/openrouter-swiss-army-knife-ai-makes-tech-magic-actually-accessible-xaizf </sources>

What does OpenRouter do?

OpenRouter provides a unified API gateway that aggregates access to over 500 large language models from more than 60 providers. It automatically routes requests to the optimal model based on price, performance, and uptime, ensuring cost efficiency and reliability for AI-powered applications.

Where is OpenRouter located?

OpenRouter is based in East New York, United States.

When was OpenRouter founded?

OpenRouter was founded in 2023.

How much funding has OpenRouter raised?

OpenRouter has raised 40000000.

Location
East New York, United States
Founded
2023
Funding
40000000
Employees
18 employees
Major Investors
Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Angel investors

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OpenRouter

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Executive Summary

OpenRouter provides a unified API gateway that aggregates access to over 500 large language models from more than 60 providers. It automatically routes requests to the optimal model based on price, performance, and uptime, ensuring cost efficiency and reliability for AI-powered applications.

openrouter.ai5K+
Founded 2023East New York, United States

Funding

$

Estimated Funding

$20M+

Major Investors

Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Angel investors

Team (15+)

No team information available.

Company Description

Problem

Developers and enterprises must manage separate API keys, billing, and integration code for dozens of large language model providers, leading to vendor lock‑in, inconsistent pricing, and reliability challenges.

Solution

OpenRouter provides a single, unified API that aggregates access to over 500 models from more than 60 providers. The platform routes each request to the most appropriate model based on price, performance, and uptime, automatically falling back to alternate providers if one service is unavailable. By handling billing, credit management, and routing intelligence centrally, OpenRouter removes the need for developers to maintain multiple provider contracts. The service runs at the edge, adding only ~25 ms latency, and offers fine‑grained data‑policy controls to ensure prompts are sent only to trusted models. Pricing is transparent through a credit‑based system with a 5 % commission on inference spend, allowing customers to keep costs low while benefiting from higher availability and performance.

Features

Unified API gateway exposing 500+ LLMs from 60+ providers via a single endpoint

Automatic model routing optimized for price, latency, and reliability; includes fallback to alternate providers

Edge‑deployed infrastructure with ~25 ms added latency for fast responses

Credit‑based billing with a 5 % commission on inference spend; supports pay‑as‑you‑go usage

Custom data‑policy engine that restricts routing to approved providers for compliance needs

Real‑time token usage dashboards (12 T monthly tokens) and model ranking insights

Fully OpenAI‑compatible SDKs and easy API‑key generation for quick integration

Target Audience

Developers building AI‑powered applications and enterprise teams that require multi‑model access, centralized billing, and compliance‑ready routing.

Revenue Model

OpenRouter charges a 5 % commission on all inference spend that flows through its platform and sells usage credits to customers on a pay‑as‑you‑go basis.

Traction

By May 2025 the company reported $5 M in annualized revenue and $8 M in monthly customer spend, equating to roughly $400 K in monthly revenue. It processes over 8.4 trillion tokens per month and has surpassed $100 M in annualized inference spend, serving more than 4.2 M global users.

Sources:
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