Price Comparison
Direct API vs Aggregator Pricing
Why Prices Differ
Aggregators like OpenRouter route requests through cloud providers (AWS Bedrock, Google Cloud, Azure) rather than direct API access. These intermediaries have their own pricing:
- Direct API - Connect directly to OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google. Lowest prices.
- Cloud Providers - AWS Bedrock, Azure, GCP often charge premiums for managed access.
- Aggregators - OpenRouter, etc. use cloud providers + add platform fees (5.5% on credits).
Source: OpenRouter Fee Structure
Current Price Differentials
Comparing official direct API pricing to OpenRouter. Updated daily.
| Model | Direct API | OpenRouter | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading... | |||
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When to Use Each
- Direct API - Best for production workloads where cost matters. Requires managing multiple API keys.
- OpenRouter - Convenient for prototyping, model switching, or when you need fallback routing. Worth the premium for flexibility.