OpenRouter free model API, 50 requests per day
OpenRouter lets you use free models whose IDs end in :free via API with no input or output token charges. Free model requests are limited to 20 per minute and 50 per day, or 1,000 per day for accounts that have purchased at least 9 in credits to date (the official table says 10).
- What you get
- 50 free model API requests per day · 1,000 per day if cumulative credit purchases are 9 or more (official table threshold: 10)
- Price
- Free model input and output token fees: 0 won
- Valid until
- To be confirmed
- Requirements
- Applies only to free models whose IDs end in :free · 20 per minute · Daily limit uses UTC · The 1,000 per day limit is based on cumulative credit purchases, not balance (the official table says 10 or more, but taking rounding and top-up fees into account, it currently applies starting at 9 or more) · Free models may also return errors if the balance is negative · Free model list may change
Check the conditions on the official page ↗
Details
OpenRouter is a service for using multiple AI models through a single OpenAI-compatible API endpoint. Free models whose model IDs end in :free have no input or output token charges, and the list of free models may change.
After creating an API key, specify a model whose ID includes :free and make a request. If you are not sure which model to use, the openrouter/free router selects a free model for each request.
Free model requests are limited to 20 per minute and 50 per day based on UTC. The official table says the limit increases to 1,000 per day if you have purchased at least 10 in credits to date, but taking rounding and top-up fees into account, it actually applies starting with 1 less credit than the table threshold (currently 9). This is based on cumulative purchases, not your current balance. If your account balance is negative, free model requests may also return errors. The official documentation does not say whether a card is required, so this needs to be verified.
Sources and verification history
- Collection channel
- aicredits
- Collected at
- October 1, 2026, 03:17 KST
- First published
- Updated
- Source
- openrouter.ai/collections/free-models
- Provider page
- openrouter.ai/collections/free-models
- Official sources checked at
- Related posts
- OpenRouter free model API, default 50 calls per day