Compare

An OpenRouter alternative with a free tier every month

Same idea — many models, one OpenAI-compatible key — but with 1M free tokens every month, flat token plans instead of per-request credits, and UPI or USDT payments.

Try it free Browse 42 models

At a glance

	OpenRouter	FreeModel
API format	OpenAI-compatible	OpenAI-compatible + Anthropic Messages
Billing model	Prepaid credits, charged per token on every request	Flat monthly token plans (from $1.20 for 30M)
Free usage	Selected free model variants with rate limits	1M tokens every month on every model
Payment methods	Card and crypto	UPI (India) and USDT
Coding agents	Works with custom-endpoint tools	Step-by-step guides for Cursor, Cline, Kilo Code, opencode, Claude Code

Based on OpenRouter's public documentation at the time of writing; check their site for current details.

Why teams switch

Predictable cost

Coding agents burn tokens fast. A flat plan means a known monthly bill instead of watching a credit balance drain.

Free every month

1M tokens reset monthly — perfect for side projects, prototypes and trying every model before you pay.

Local payments

Pay in rupees with Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm, or in USDT — no international card required.

Migrating takes one line

# before
client = OpenAI(base_url="https://openrouter.ai/api/v1", api_key="sk-or-…")

# after — same SDK, same code
client = OpenAI(base_url="https://freemodel.in/v1", api_key="fm_your_key")

Model IDs differ between services — pick yours from the model list or GET /v1/models.

Questions

How is FreeModel different from OpenRouter?

Both put many AI models behind one OpenAI-compatible API. OpenRouter is pay-as-you-go: you buy credits and each request is charged per token. FreeModel gives every account 1M free tokens each month and sells flat monthly token packages, so a fixed price buys a fixed volume. FreeModel also accepts UPI and USDT.

Can I switch from OpenRouter without rewriting code?

Usually yes. Both use the OpenAI request format: change the base URL to https://freemodel.in/v1, use your fm_ key and pick a model ID from the FreeModel model list.

Does FreeModel work with Claude Code, Cursor and Cline?

Yes. Any tool that accepts a custom OpenAI-compatible endpoint works, and Anthropic clients such as Claude Code can use the Anthropic-compatible Messages endpoint on the same key. See the coding agents guide.

When is OpenRouter the better choice?

If you need a specific model that FreeModel does not list, provider-level routing controls, or strictly per-request billing for very spiky traffic, OpenRouter may suit you better. For steady daily use, coding agents and budgets in rupees, FreeModel's flat plans are usually simpler and cheaper.

Try the switch for free

1M tokens this month on us — no card needed.

Create free account

OpenRouter is a trademark of its owner. FreeModel is an independent service and is not affiliated with OpenRouter or with any model provider.