Flux Router

Flux vs OpenRouter

OpenRouter puts hundreds of models on one key, with search, page reading, images and speech built in, and an Auto Router that can choose the model for you. Flux does the core job with a smaller, vetted set of models, picks one for each job, and bills one flat rate per lane.

Checked 28 September 2026. See sources

Who each is for

OpenRouter

Developers who want the widest choice of models and providers, with fine control over which provider serves each call.

Flux

People running coding agents and assistants who want the model chosen for them, at a rate they know before they send.

Side by side

CapabilityFluxOpenRouter
Every major model on one key Yes Yes. Hundreds
Picks the right model for each job Yes Yes. Auto Router
Live web search and page reading Partly. Page reading now Yes
Voices, speaking and listening Partly. Transcription now Yes
Actions in apps Partly. Coming to your key No
Memory across every model Partly. Shipping No
Models
Flux90+ models from 12 labs, on one key.
OpenRouterHundreds of models from many providers.
How the model is chosen
FluxSend flux-auto and Flux picks among vetted models for each kind of task, cost-aware. Or name any model in the catalogue yourself.
OpenRouterYou name the model, or the Auto Router sorts your prompt into a kind of task and ranks models by what users spend on for that task.
Pricing
FluxOne flat rate per lane: Fast, Standard and Reasoning. flux-auto bills at the Standard rate, or the Fast rate when it sends your request to the Fast lane and a Fast model answers. Never more than Standard. A model you name bills at the rate on the pricing page.
OpenRouterProvider list price with no markup on tokens. A 5.5% fee when you buy credits by card ($0.80 minimum). The Auto Router bills the rate of the model it picks.
Cost of each call
FluxIn the headers and body of every non-streamed response, with the model that answered.
OpenRouterIn the usage block of every response, streamed or not.

Where each one wins

Where OpenRouter wins

  • A far bigger catalogue: hundreds of models from many providers.
  • Built-in tools any model can call, from search and page reading to images and a hosted shell.
  • No markup on model prices. The fee is on buying credits instead.

Where Flux wins

  • One flat rate per lane, and flux-auto never costs more than the Standard rate, whichever model answers.
  • The picker chooses among models we have vetted for each kind of task, cost-aware, rather than by what other people spend on.

Which to choose

Choose OpenRouter if you want the widest catalogue, like to pick each model yourself, or already use its built-in tools. It is a sensible default.

Choose Flux if you want one key that picks a vetted model for each job, at a flat rate per lane you can plan around.

Moving from OpenRouter: the migration guide

Questions

Is Flux cheaper than OpenRouter?

It depends on the job. OpenRouter charges each model at list price plus a fee on credits. Flux charges one flat rate per lane, and flux-auto bills at the Standard rate, or the Fast rate when it sends your request to the Fast lane and a Fast model answers. A flat rate makes the cost of a job predictable. For one cheap model all day, list price usually wins.

Does OpenRouter pick the model for me too?

Yes. Its Auto Router ranks models by what users spend on for your kind of task, and bills the rate of the model it picks. Flux picks among models we have vetted for each kind of task, and bills the lane rate.

Can I keep my agent setup when I switch?

Usually, yes. Flux speaks the same OpenAI-style and Anthropic-style APIs, so most agents need a new base URL and key. The migration guide has the details.

Sources

We re-check these facts every quarter. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.

Try Flux with the agent you already use.

One key, any agent. Point the tool you already use at Flux and keep everything else.

Get your key See pricing