OpenRouter
Setup
One account, one API key, one integration
Model access
400+ models from 60+ providers
Fallbacks
Automatic, built in
Cost
Model price + 5.5% fee (or 5% BYOK)
Advanced features
Most features supported; some provider specific features may lag
Latency
Small overhead from routing layer
Best for
Multi model apps, prototyping, reliability
Direct API Keys
Setup
Separate account and key per provider
Model access
Only models from that one provider
Fallbacks
You build retry logic yourself
Cost
Model price only, no markup
Advanced features
Full access to every feature immediately
Latency
Direct connection, lowest possible latency
Best for
Single provider, maximum control, lowest cost
Bottom line
OpenRouter is the right choice for most developers who work with multiple AI models or want built in reliability. Go direct only if you exclusively use one provider, need every bleeding edge feature, or have a negotiated enterprise rate that beats OpenRouter's pricing. Many teams use both: OpenRouter as the default with direct keys for specific high volume or latency sensitive workloads.