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Getting Started
OpenRouter Setup

OpenRouter Setup

OpenRouter provides unified access to multiple AI models including Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, Llama, Qwen, DeepSeek, and more through a single API.

Why OpenRouter?

  • Multiple Models: Access 100+ AI models from one provider
  • Best Pricing: Competitive rates across all models
  • No Vendor Lock-in: Switch between models easily
  • Free Trial: $1 free credit with OAuth sign-in
  • Usage Analytics: Track your API usage and costs

Setup Methods

OAuth Sign-In (Easiest)

Perfect for getting started quickly with no API key needed.

Steps:

  1. Click the Settings icon (⚙️) in the AI Chat panel
  2. Select “OpenRouter” as your provider
  3. Click “Sign in with OpenRouter”
  4. You’ll be redirected to OpenRouter in a new tab
  5. Authorize Browser Operator to access your account
  6. Return to Browser Operator - you’re automatically logged in!
  7. Select your preferred model from the dropdown

Note: OAuth tokens expire after 30 days and will need re-authentication.

API Key Setup

Recommended for production use and advanced users.

Steps:

  1. Visit OpenRouter Keys and sign up/sign in
  2. Click “Create Key” to generate a new API key
  3. Give your key a name (e.g., “Browser Operator”)
  4. Copy the API key (starts with sk-or-v1-...)
  5. In Browser Operator:
    • Click the Settings icon in AI Chat panel
    • Select “OpenRouter” as provider
    • Paste your API key in the API Key field
    • Click “Fetch Models” to load available models
    • Select your preferred model
    • Click “Save”

API Key Security:

  • Keep your API key private
  • Don’t share it or commit it to version control
  • Rotate keys regularly for security

Choosing a Model (2025)

OpenRouter offers 400+ models. Here are some popular choices:

For General Use

  • Claude 4.5 Sonnet (anthropic/claude-4.5-sonnet) - Best overall performance, excellent reasoning
  • Gemini 2.5 Pro (google/gemini-2.5-pro) - Great for long context and analysis

For Speed & Cost

  • Gemini 2.5 Flash (google/gemini-2.5-flash) - Free, lightning fast
  • Claude 4.5 Haiku (anthropic/claude-4.5-haiku) - Fast and affordable

Pricing (2025)

OpenRouter uses pass-through pricing with no markup. Platform fee: 5.5% on credit card purchases (5% crypto). Bring-your-own-key (BYOK) also supported.

Free Model Limits:

  • Without credits: 50 requests/day
  • With ≥$10 credits purchased: 1,000 requests/day

Check current pricing at OpenRouter Models.

Managing Credits

Adding Credits

  1. Visit OpenRouter Account
  2. Click “Add Credits”
  3. Choose your amount ($10, $25, $50, or custom)
  4. Complete payment with credit card

Monitoring Usage

  1. Visit OpenRouter Activity
  2. View your usage by:
    • Model
    • Date range
    • Cost breakdown
    • Request count

Setting Spending Limits

  1. Go to OpenRouter Settings
  2. Set daily or monthly spending limits
  3. Receive alerts when approaching limits
  4. Automatic cutoff when limit reached

Troubleshooting

“Invalid API Key” Error

  • Verify your key starts with sk-or-v1-
  • Check that you copied the entire key
  • Ensure your key hasn’t been revoked
  • Try generating a new key

“Insufficient Credits” Error

  • Check your balance at OpenRouter Account
  • Add more credits to continue using the service
  • Free OAuth users: add payment method for continued access

Models Not Loading

  • Check your internet connection
  • Click “Fetch Models” again in settings
  • Try refreshing the Browser Operator window
  • Verify OpenRouter API status at status.openrouter.ai

OAuth Token Expired

  • Click “Sign in with OpenRouter” again
  • Authorize the application
  • You’ll be logged back in automatically

Next Steps

Support

Groq Setup