API key guide
How to Get an OpenRouter API Key
OpenRouter is a single endpoint in front of many labs. One key gets you open weight models with free tiers alongside frontier models, and you can change model without changing anything else.
Step by step
- 1
Create an account
Sign in at openrouter.ai with Google, GitHub or email.
- 2
Open the Keys page
From your account menu choose Keys. This lists every key and its usage.
- 3
Create a key with a limit
Click Create Key, name it 'GetSEO', and set an optional credit limit on the key itself. That cap is enforced even if your balance is larger.
- 4
Add credit only if you need it
Several open weight models are free to call. Add a few dollars only when you want frontier models for client reports.
- 5
Use it in GetSEO
In the settings drawer choose OpenRouter, paste the key, and set the model ID exactly as OpenRouter lists it, including the provider prefix.
Open the settings drawer from the top bar, add the key, and it is saved in your browser only. You can add several keys and GetSEO will fail over between them automatically.
Worth knowing
- Per-key credit limits make OpenRouter the safest place to experiment.
- Free models are rate limited and can be busy; keep a second key in the pool.
- Model IDs include the vendor prefix, and a missing prefix is the most common setup mistake.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| No endpoints found for model | The model ID is wrong or retired. Copy it from the OpenRouter models page exactly. |
| 402 payment required | You picked a paid model with no balance. Switch to a free model or add credit. |
| Slow or queued responses | Free capacity is shared. Retry, pick a different free model, or fail over to Groq. |
Key ready? Run your free audit.
Paste your URL and get a scored report across SEO, conversion, content, accessibility, mobile and trust, with the fixes written for you.
Run a free audit