Why Trial
OpenRouter provides a single API to access multiple LLM providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, open-source models). For projects needing flexibility across models, this could simplify integration and reduce vendor lock-in.
What It Offers
- Unified API - One interface, many models
- Automatic routing - Can route to cheapest or fastest option
- Fallback support - Automatic failover if a model is unavailable
- Cost tracking - Visibility into spending across providers
Current Exploration
Testing OpenRouter for:
- Comparing model outputs on the same prompts
- Cost optimization for high-volume API usage
- Prototyping with models I don’t have direct accounts for
Early Observations
Promising:
- Easy model switching without code changes
- Good for experimentation
- Transparent pricing comparison
Still Evaluating:
- Latency overhead vs. direct API calls
- Reliability under load
- Value for production use vs. just development
Build Considerations
For JoyCork and FlowLink, currently using direct API integrations. OpenRouter might make sense if:
- I need to quickly test different models
- I want automatic failover
- Cost optimization becomes critical at scale
Current Status
Experimenting but not yet committed. Direct API access still preferred for production due to simpler debugging and fewer moving parts.