OpenLLM vs OpenRouter
OpenRouter is a cloud API marketplace: one hosted key in front of hundreds of models, paid through credits. They hold the provider accounts, so you get breadth without opening accounts anywhere. OpenRouter for breadth of models you don't have accounts with; OpenLLM for the plans you already have. Many people use both.
curl -fsSL https://www.openllm.sh/install | bashopenllm claudeOpenLLM vs OpenRouter
| Feature | OpenLLM | OpenRouter |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | Your machine (local daemon) plus a hosted gateway for API keys | Their cloud |
| Model access | Every provider you hold an account with, plus any compatible endpoint | Hundreds of models via their accounts |
| Subscriptions | Claude, ChatGPT, Kimi Code, Grok and Cursor plans, served by a daemon on your machine that runs the vendor's own login | Not offered |
| Fallback | Per-alias chains shared by every client; a rate-limited entry is cooled and the chain continues before any output | Provider routing per request |
| Code search & memory | Built-in MCP server: semantic code search, doc indexing, memory | Not included |
| Billing | Free plan with a monthly token allowance, no card; no markup on provider tokens | Prepaid credits |
Pick OpenRouter when
- You want models you don't have accounts with
- You prefer one prepaid balance
Pick OpenLLM when
- You already pay for subscriptions or provider accounts
- You want those plans behind one key across coding agents
Your subscriptions stay on your machine
Subscription providers run through the local OpenLLM daemon, which delegates to the vendor's official CLI and its own login. The hosted gateway never holds a subscription credential.
Provider keys encrypted at rest
API keys are encrypted in your browser with AES-256-GCM under a key derived from your recovery phrase, and stored as ciphertext. They are decrypted in memory only while a request is being served, then discarded. Subscription credentials never reach the hosted service.
Fallback chains when a model is rate-limited
Define an ordered chain per model alias. When a hop returns a rate limit, an overload or a provider error, the request moves to the next hop instead of failing your session.
- Chains are configured once and shared by every client and device
- Each hop resolves its own model settings, so a fallback never inherits the wrong parameters
- Every hop that ran is visible in your request history
Code search and memory over MCP
The same binary ships one MCP server: semantic search over your indexed repositories and documentation, plus memory that persists across sessions and clients.
Questions
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Checked 2026-09-25 against OpenRouter pricing.