OpenRouter
OpenRouter provides a unified API to hundreds of AI models from different providers — OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Mistral, and more. Use it to access models you might not have direct API access to, all through a single key.
Prerequisites
- An OpenRouter account
- An API key from the OpenRouter dashboard
- Credits in your OpenRouter account (some models are free)
Setup
- Go to openrouter.ai/keys
- Click Create Key and copy it
- In Sythoria, open Settings from the sidebar
- Select OpenRouter from the Provider Preset dropdown — the API base URL and default model fill in automatically
- Paste your API key into the API Key field
- The connection indicator should turn green within a few seconds
Your API key is stored securely in your OS keychain. It is never sent to Sythoria's servers. See Privacy & Security.
Default configuration
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| API Base | https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions |
| Default Model | anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet |
| API Format | OpenAI Chat Completions |
| Streaming | Supported |
Available models
OpenRouter supports models from dozens of providers. Model IDs use the provider/model-name format:
| Model ID | Provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|
anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet | Anthropic | Balanced Claude model |
openai/gpt-4o | OpenAI | GPT-4o via OpenRouter |
meta-llama/llama-3.1-70b-instruct | Meta | Open-source, strong all-rounder |
mistralai/mistral-large | Mistral | European provider, good multilingual |
google/gemini-pro-1.5 | Gemini via OpenRouter | |
deepseek/deepseek-chat | DeepSeek | Cost-effective, strong coding |
Browse the full catalog at openrouter.ai/models with live pricing and availability.
Model ID format
OpenRouter uses a provider/model-name naming scheme. When entering a model in Sythoria's Model ID field, use the exact ID from openrouter.ai/models. Examples:
anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnetmeta-llama/llama-3.1-70b-instructgoogle/gemini-2.0-flash
Why use OpenRouter?
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Single API key | One key for hundreds of models — no separate accounts needed |
| Automatic fallback | If a provider is down, OpenRouter can route to an alternative |
| Transparent pricing | Pay only for what you use; see costs before you send |
| Free models | Some models are free to use (rate-limited) — great for testing |
Pricing
OpenRouter passes through provider pricing with a small markup. Some models are free (rate-limited). Check openrouter.ai/models for per-model pricing. Add credits at openrouter.ai/credits.
Troubleshooting
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 401 Unauthorized | Invalid API key or no credits | Check your key at openrouter.ai/keys and add credits if needed |
| 403 Model not available | Some models require accepting provider terms first | Visit openrouter.ai/models, find the model, and accept its terms |
| 429 Rate Limit | Exceeded free tier or usage limits | Wait and retry, or upgrade your OpenRouter plan |
| Model not found | Incorrect model ID format | Use the exact provider/model-name ID from openrouter.ai/models |
| Connection indicator red | Network issue or invalid configuration | Verify the API base URL and key, then click Refresh |
