OpenRouter Free Models
OpenRouter's free model variants (model IDs ending in :free) cost nothing to call, at 20 requests a minute and 50 a day, rising to 1,000 a day once the account has bought at least $10 of credits.
OpenRouter Free Models is an AI and ML perk from OpenRouter, free to use, with no funding required.
Inside OpenRouter Free Models
OpenRouter serves free variants of many models (25+ free models, per its pricing page) through the same API as its paid models. Free models are capped at 20 requests per minute and 50 per day, rising to 1,000 per day once the account has bought at least $10 of credits. Whether free requests may go to providers that train on your data is set in your privacy settings, separately for paid and free models. The paid variant of a model has no platform-level request cap.
Source: The provider's official program page · as of Oct 4, 2026
Who it's for
- Funding / backing
- No funding needed
- Geography
- Global
- Recurring / expiry
- Ongoing: free variants have no end date; the daily cap resets every day.
- Other requirements
- Free variants may have different rate limits or availability than paid versions.
How to apply for OpenRouter Free Models
- A short description of what your startup does
- A company email on your own domain
- 1Create an OpenRouter account and API key
- 2call a model whose ID ends in :free.
Source: The provider's official program page · as of Oct 4, 2026
Other ways to get a OpenRouter deal
Mercury gives its customers a deal on OpenRouter. It is separate from OpenRouter Free Models, with its own conditions, and partners usually allow one startup deal per company, so compare who qualifies before you apply.
- Mercury Perks$1k credits + moreFor Mercury business account holders
- The program is designed for startups building AI-native products that are at a Pre-Series B stage. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements in order to qualify, including having a public company website, a professional company email address, and a valid OpenRouter account with less than $500 in lifetime spend. Each applicant is allowed to receive startup credits once, even if they are affiliated with multiple partners.
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If approved, the credits and waived fees will be automatically applied to your OpenRouter organization account associated with an applicant email, and the applicant will be notified.
Read from each platform's own perks page on or after October 2, 2026.
OpenRouter Free Models: common questions
What do you get with OpenRouter Free Models?
OpenRouter Free Models is free to use.
Who qualifies for OpenRouter Free Models?
OpenRouter Free Models is open to any startup, with no funding required. Free variants may have different rate limits or availability than paid versions.
Do I need to be VC-backed or in an accelerator to get OpenRouter Free Models?
No. OpenRouter Free Models is open to any startup that meets the stated criteria, no investor or accelerator backing required.
How do I apply for OpenRouter Free Models?
Create an OpenRouter account and API key, then call a model whose ID ends in :free.
How long do I have to use OpenRouter Free Models, and does it expire?
Ongoing: free variants have no end date; the daily cap resets every day.
Is OpenRouter Free Models available outside the US?
OpenRouter Free Models is available globally, subject to the provider's terms.
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