AutoRouter and OpenRouter
OpenRouter is a hosted service with one API for hundreds of models. AutoRouter is a Mac app that works inside Codex and Claude Code.
| AutoRouter A Mac app for Codex and Claude Code. $0/mo on your plans Download | OpenRouter A hosted API for hundreds of models. 5.5%platform fee | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 on your plans, Pro $20 a month | Free plan, 50 requests a day |
| Fee on tokens | Provider’s price plus 10% | 5.5% on Standard, 8% on Business |
| Runs on | Your Mac, in Codex and Claude Code | Their servers, as a hosted API |
| Setup | Install, then immediately available in your current harness | Sign up and call it with a key |
| Model choice | Picked for each turn, by your rules | 500+ models, auto-routing on Standard |
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Sources checked October 30, 2026: OpenRouter, Pricing and AutoRouter, Pricing. See every comparison.
Questions
The detail behind each fact, and how to choose.
Who is OpenRouter for, and who is AutoRouter for?
OpenRouter suits developers who want one hosted API for many models and one bill. AutoRouter suits people who work in Codex or Claude Code on a Mac and want the model chosen each turn, with their own plans used first.
What does OpenRouter cost?
A Free plan with 25+ free models and 50 requests a day. The Standard pay as you go plan adds a 5.5% platform fee, Business adds 8%, and Enterprise terms are custom. With your own provider keys, the first $25,000 of list-price inference each month carries no fee, and a 5% fee applies after that.
How do you set up OpenRouter?
A hosted service. You sign up and call its API with a key. Chat and API access are on every plan.
How does OpenRouter choose models?
500+ models on the Standard plan. Auto-routing is available on Standard and above, and not on the Free plan.
How do I move over from OpenRouter?
OpenRouter is a hosted API, and AutoRouter is a Mac app inside two coding agents. Apps that call OpenRouter can keep calling it, and installing AutoRouter doesn't change those calls.
What does AutoRouter cost?
Routing across your ChatGPT and Claude plans is free. Pro is $20 a month with $20 of usage, and paid models bill at the provider’s price plus 10%. See pricing, or estimate a month with and without AutoRouter in the savings calculator.
