Alternatives
Best OpenRouter alternatives (2026)
People leave OpenRouter for three reasons: the fee on buying credits (5.5% by card ($0.80 minimum) and 5% in crypto), not knowing which host or precision will serve a request, and wanting more than an API. Here are seven alternatives, what each is best for, and where OpenRouter still wins. We make FullsendAI, so it's listed first; judge it on the same facts.
How we chose
- An OpenAI-compatible API you can switch to by changing the base URL.
- Published prices for the same models OpenRouter serves.
- Clear fees, privacy defaults and hosting, each with a source we could check.
Summary
Each cell links to its source and the date we checked it.
What it is
OpenAI-compatible API
Anthropic Messages API
Claude, GPT and Gemini
Prompt logging by default
- FullsendAI
- API prompts not stored unless you turn on 30-day body storage
- Requesty
- Self-serve: prompts and outputs logged for up to 30 days; can be turned off per keySource ·
- DeepInfra
- Not stored or logged; Google and Anthropic models follow their own termsSource ·
- Fireworks AI
- Open models: not logged or stored without opt-inSource ·
Desktop coding agent
Own tuned models
| Feature | FullsendAI | Requesty | DeepInfra | Fireworks AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | One API key, a web chat and one-command setup for coding agents | Router and gateway in front of many providersSource · | Inference host on its own GPUs; also GPU rentalSource · | Serverless and dedicated inference, fine-tuningSource · |
| OpenAI-compatible API | Yes (Chat Completions) | YesSource · | YesSource · | YesSource · |
| Anthropic Messages API | Yes; works with Claude Code | Yes; documents Claude Code setupSource · | Yes; documents Claude Code setupSource · | YesSource · |
| Claude, GPT and Gemini | Not yet | YesSource · | Claude and Gemini; no GPTSource · | No (open models)Source · |
| Prompt logging by default | API prompts not stored unless you turn on 30-day body storage | Self-serve: prompts and outputs logged for up to 30 days; can be turned off per keySource · | Not stored or logged; Google and Anthropic models follow their own termsSource · | Open models: not logged or stored without opt-inSource · |
| Desktop coding agent | Not yet: one command sets up Claude Code, Codex and more | No desktop agent; setup guides for third-party agentsSource · | No desktop agent; Claude Code setup guideSource · | NoSource · |
| Own tuned models | Nef 4.0 and Sifu 3.5, tuned for security research and code | NoSource · | NoSource · | NoSource · |
The alternatives
1. FullsendAI
Best for: One key for the API, a web chat and your coding agents
Pay per token with no fee on top-ups, by card or crypto. Every model runs in the USA, and API prompts are stored only if you turn on body storage. It has 4 models, far fewer than OpenRouter, and no provider controls; it adds Nef 4.0 and Sifu 3.5, our models for security research and code.
Compare in detail →2. Requesty
Best for: EU data residency and per-request cost reporting
A router much like OpenRouter, with fallback policies, an Anthropic endpoint and the cost of each request in the response. It charges 5% on model cost, logs prompts for up to 30 days by default on self-serve plans (you can turn it off per key), and its SOC 2 Type II is in progress.
- Fee on usage
- 5% on model costSource ·
- Where inference runs
- EU data residency in FrankfurtSource ·
- Prompt logging by default
- Self-serve: prompts and outputs logged for up to 30 days; can be turned off per keySource ·
3. DeepInfra
Best for: The host's own price on open models, plus batch and GPUs
A host rather than a router: it runs open models on its own GPUs in the US and sets its own prices, often the market's list price, with promotions below it. Batch, Flex and Priority tiers, embeddings, speech and images. No router in between, so no failover to another host.
- Models
- 173 models on its OpenAI-compatible endpointSource ·
- Where inference runs
- United StatesSource ·
- Batch discount
- 20% offSource ·
4. Fireworks AI
Best for: Open models with a no-logging default and SOC 2
Serverless and dedicated inference with OpenAI and Anthropic endpoints. Open-model prompts aren't logged without opt-in. Watch the spend limit: reaching it pauses every API request on the account.
- Prompt logging by default
- Open models: not logged or stored without opt-inSource ·
- Audits and certifications
- SOC 2 Type II and HIPAASource ·
- Batch discount
- 50% offSource ·
5. Together AI
Best for: Inference plus fine-tuning and GPU clusters
A full open-model cloud. No Anthropic endpoint is documented, and zero data retention is off by default: prompts may be used for product improvement until you turn it on.
- Prompt logging by default
- Stores prompts and may use them for product improvement unless zero data retention is turned on (off by default)Source ·
- Anthropic Messages API
- Not documentedSource ·
6. Groq
Best for: Speed on a few models
Its own LPU hardware is built for fast output, but the self-serve list is short and some models moved to enterprise-only. Developer-plan rate limits are low.
- Models
- 2 self-serve text models (plus speech); Llama models enterprise-onlySource ·
- Rate limits
- Developer plan, GPT OSS 120B: 30 requests and 8K tokens a minuteSource ·
7. Portkey
Best for: Governance over your own provider keys
Not a reseller: a gateway with logs, guardrails and budgets in front of provider accounts you already have, billed per log. Now part of Palo Alto Networks.
- Fee on usage
- Free to 10K logs a month; $49 a month for 100K, then $9 per 100KSource ·
- Company status
- Acquired by Palo Alto Networks (closed May 2026); now sold as Prisma AIRS AI GatewaySource ·
When to stay on OpenRouter
- You need its breadth: 456 models, with image and audio models.
- You rely on provider ordering, fallbacks or precision filters.
- You bring your own provider keys or use its free models.
Migrate in 2 minutes
Change the base URL, the key and the model name. Everything else stays: streaming, tool calls and images work as before.
from openai import OpenAI
client = OpenAI(
base_url="https://fullsendai.com/v1",
api_key="fs_live_...",
)
reply = client.chat.completions.create(
model="deepseek-v4.1-flash",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
)Full setup for every tool is in the quickstart and agent guides.
Questions
What is the best OpenRouter alternative?
It depends on why you're leaving. For no top-up fee plus a chat app and coding agent, FullsendAI. For EU data residency, Requesty. For a host's own price on open models, DeepInfra. For governance over your own keys, Portkey.
Is there an OpenRouter alternative without a credit fee?
Yes. FullsendAI, DeepInfra, Together AI, Fireworks AI and Groq state no fee on top-ups. Requesty charges 5% on usage instead.
Can I use my OpenRouter code unchanged?
Almost. Change the base URL, the API key and the model name; the request and response formats are the standard OpenAI Chat Completions and Anthropic Messages ones. Options specific to one provider have no equivalent here, so remove them.
Where does FullsendAI run models?
In the United States, every model. Requests are never routed abroad, not even when a host is busy.
Related comparisons
One key. Every model. No top-up fee.
Works with the OpenAI and Anthropic SDKs, Claude Code, Codex and other coding agents. Every model runs in the USA.