OpenRouter free models (:free)

Call dozens of LLMs free through OpenRouter's ':free' model variants — 50 requests/day with no purchase, 1,000/day after buying $10 in credits.

Last verified 14 Jun 2026 (today) Official source (opens in a new tab) openrouter.ai

Key facts

Free value: 50 requests/day
Details: 50 free-model requests/day (20/min); rises to 1,000/day after purchasing $10+ in credits
Credit card required: No
Expiry: No fixed expiry (ongoing)
Eligibility: Anyone with an OpenRouter account. The higher 1,000/day cap requires a one-time $10 credit purchase.

What you get

Access to a rotating catalogue of free ':free' model variants through one OpenAI-compatible API. Free usage is capped at 20 requests/minute and 50 requests/day; once you have purchased at least $10 in credits (lifetime), the daily cap rises to 1,000 free-model requests/day.

How to claim it

Create an account at openrouter.ai
Generate an API key
Call a model whose name ends in ':free' via the OpenRouter API

Good to know

The exact list of ':free' models is dynamic and changes over time. Failed requests still count toward the daily quota.