Curated & hand-verified · last row-level check 2026-08-25
Provider direct vs OpenRouter
Routers promise convenience; providers occasionally promise lower prices. This page puts both claims side by side for the most-used models, with every first-party price verified against its official source. Deliberately small and accurate rather than exhaustive and stale.
Identical price
4
Routing is free
Direct is cheaper
1
Worth checking before committing
Router is cheaper
0
Wholesale rates passed through
Side by side
| Model | Direct (in/out) | OpenRouter (in/out) | Δ input | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPT-5.6 Terra ProOpenAI | $2.00 / $12.00 | $2.00 / $12.00 | — | 2026-08-25 |
| GPT-5.6 LunaOpenAI | $0.200 / $1.20 | $0.200 / $1.20 | — | 2026-08-25 |
| Claude Fable 5Anthropic | $10.00 / $50.00 | $10.00 / $50.00 | — | 2026-08-25 |
| Claude Opus 5Anthropic | $5.00 / $25.00 | $5.00 / $25.00 | — | 2026-08-25 |
| Gemini 3.7 FlashGoogle AI | $0.375 / $1.88 | $0.750 / $3.75 | +100% | 2026-08-25 |
- ℹ️ Gemini 3.7 Flash: Google AI Studio rate limits are lower than Vertex AI; enterprise pricing differs.
FAQ
- Is OpenRouter more expensive than going direct?
- Usually not. For most major models, OpenRouter passes through the provider's list price exactly. Differences appear in promo periods, volume tiers, and features like prompt caching that some first-party endpoints discount differently.
- What are reasons to use a router at all?
- One API key and one billing relationship for hundreds of models, automatic failover, unified usage analytics, and no per-provider procurement. For teams using many models, the operational savings usually outweigh any small price delta.
- Why do prices ever differ?
- Providers run first-party promotions (e.g., limited-time discounts), offer committed-use volume tiers, or include free quotas that routers don't pass through. Conversely, routers sometimes negotiate wholesale rates below list.
- How current is this comparison?
- Each row carries its own verification date and links to the official source page. We re-verify manually when providers announce changes — this table is curated for accuracy over coverage.
Related: batch discounts · price changes · monthly calculator