Router fee and model economics
OpenRouter effective cost calculator
Separate the underlying model rate from OpenRouter credit and BYOK charges. Model prices are dated snapshots; fees are shown as separate inputs.
Estimated monthly cost
$0.00
Enter assumptions to update the estimate.
Monthly token breakdown
Estimate, not a provider quote. Public list rates, regional terms, contract discounts, taxes and usage meters can change. Check the linked source and replace assumptions with your account terms before budgeting.
Pricing and method sources
Rate cards display their own verification and effective dates. Use the original provider source to confirm current billing details.
How this estimate works
Do not mix model price with account fees
OpenRouter states that inference pricing passes through underlying provider rates without a token markup. Its current pricing page lists a 5.5% credit-purchase fee for Standard and 8% for Business; these fees apply when credits are purchased, not to each inference request. BYOK has a plan-dependent allowance measured by list-price inference cost: Standard and Business include $25,000 per month, then the 5% BYOK fee applies above the allowance. Enterprise terms are custom.
Model catalog records can change and routing may select different providers. The calculator keeps model cost, BYOK estimate and any credit-purchase fee separate. Use the account plan and checkout terms that apply to your workspace.
Route on more than price
Fallback, region, latency, rate limits, context window and privacy settings can alter the workload result. For a provider-to-provider comparison, hold tokens and workload assumptions constant in Model Pricing Comparison.
Price record and update boundary
This page uses 4 token-rate record(s) verified on 2 November 2026. The data are a snapshot, not a live quote. Every selected record includes its provider source link, effective date, verification date and context note.
Frequently asked questions
Does OpenRouter add a markup to every model token?
OpenRouter’s FAQ says provider inference pricing is passed through without an inference markup. Credit purchases and BYOK are separate fee categories.
How does the BYOK free allowance work?
Standard and Business include $25,000 per month measured by list-price inference cost. Usage above that allowance carries a 5% fee; Enterprise allowance is custom.
How are OpenRouter credit purchases charged?
The current pricing page lists a 5.5% credit-purchase fee for Standard and 8% for Business. The fee applies when credits are purchased, not on each inference request; account checkout terms and taxes may differ.
Are these OpenRouter rates live?
The public model catalog is dynamic. The calculator uses a dated snapshot and links the API so you can confirm the current model and provider record.