OrcaRouter

What is OrcaRouter?

OrcaRouter is an API gateway that lets developers send requests to many AI models through one OpenAI-compatible endpoint. You point an existing OpenAI, Anthropic or Google SDK at the OrcaRouter base URL, swap the API key, and choose a model or let the auto router pick one. It routes across providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, DeepSeek, xAI Grok, Alibaba Qwen and Moonshot Kimi, with automatic failover, caching and prompt versioning. The pitch is that it adds no markup to token costs: you pay the provider's published rate, and revenue comes from optional team plans. Privacy controls include data cloaking for names and card numbers, logging that is off until you turn it on, guardrails against secrets and prompt injection, and an agent firewall that grades tool calls. You can also bring your own provider keys. Plans are Hacker (free), Team at $499/mo for up to 10 seats and compliance enforcement, and Enterprise with custom pricing.

Use cases

• Route requests to 200+ models with one API
• Fail over automatically between providers
• Cap spend by workspace, key or agent
• Version and manage prompts
• Mask personal data before it reaches a model
• Audit configuration changes and usage
• Use your own provider keys
• Enforce compliance policies on AI traffic

Who it's for

• Developers
• Platform engineering teams
• AI product teams
• Compliance and security teams

Why use OrcaRouter

• One endpoint replaces separate integrations with each model provider.
• Token costs equal the provider's published rate, so the bill is easy to compare.
• The free tier covers the full gateway, with paid plans adding team and compliance features.
• Logging is off by default, and sensitive data can be masked before it reaches a model.
• Hard spend caps stop usage when a limit is reached instead of only sending an alert.

OrcaRouter features

• OpenAI-compatible endpoint covering 200+ models
• Automatic failover and fallback chains
• Auto router that picks a model for each prompt
• Pay-as-you-go top-ups, credit subscriptions and bring-your-own-key
• Data cloaking for names, emails and card numbers
• Guardrails for PII, secrets, jailbreaks and prompt injection
• Agent firewall that allows, reviews or blocks tool and MCP calls
• Spend caps at workspace, key and agent level
• Prompt versioning and cached calls
• Compliance packs and audit reports on paid plans

OrcaRouter integrations

• OpenAI
• Anthropic
• Google Gemini
• DeepSeek
• xAI Grok
• Alibaba Qwen
• Moonshot Kimi
• MiniMax
• Kling
• ByteDance Seedance

How to get started with OrcaRouter

1. Create an account and generate an OrcaRouter API key.
2. Set the base URL in your OpenAI, Anthropic or Google SDK to the OrcaRouter endpoint.
3. Pick a specific model, define a fallback chain, or use the auto router.
4. Add guardrails, spend caps and prompt versions from the dashboard as you need them.
5. Review usage, cost and audit records, and upgrade to Team for shared workspaces and compliance packs.

OrcaRouter limitations

• The free Hacker tier is a single-user workspace with 10 API keys
• Team includes up to 10 seats; more seats need Enterprise
• No free trial of the Team plan is offered
• Bring-your-own-key traffic may carry a platform fee

OrcaRouter pricing

Yes, OrcaRouter has a free plan. Paid plans start at $499 per month, according to the official pricing page on 24 Oct 2026.

OrcaRouter plans

• Hacker

  Free

  forever

  • 200+ models with auto-failover
  • Basic dashboard
  • Prompt versioning
  • 10 API keys
  • 0% token markup

• Team

  $499/mo

  • Everything in Hacker
  • Up to 10 team seats
  • Compliance enforcement and reports
  • Unlimited API keys
  • Priority support

• Enterprise

  Custom

  • Everything in Team
  • Unlimited team seats
  • Dedicated infrastructure
  • 99.99% uptime SLA
  • Dedicated support

Plans as listed on the official pricing page on 24 Oct 2026. Prices can change and may vary by country or exclude tax. Check the official pricing page.

OrcaRouter alternatives

The main OrcaRouter alternatives listed on Debuly are OpenRouter, LiteLLM, Portkey, Helicone, Kong AI Gateway and Orq.ai. The table compares pricing and platforms; order is A–Z.

1. 

   Helicone

   Open-source LLM observability and AI gateway that logs requests, tracks cost and latency, and routes to 100+ models through one API.

   Developer platformsCoding
   FreemiumVisit Helicone (official site)
2. 

   Kong AI Gateway

   Gateway and control layer for LLM, MCP and agent traffic, with usage metering, billing and cost limits built in.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agents
   Contact salesVisit Kong AI Gateway (official site)
3. 

   LiteLLM

   Open-source AI gateway and Python SDK that gives one OpenAI-format API to 100+ LLM providers, with keys, budgets and cost tracking.

   Developer platformsCodingAutomation and agents
   Open sourceVisit LiteLLM (official site)
4. 

   OpenRouter

   Unified OpenAI-compatible API for 500+ AI models with provider fallbacks, pay-as-you-go credits and a free tier

   Developer platformsChat assistantsAutomation and agents
   FreemiumVisit OpenRouter (official site)
5. 

   Orq.ai

   AI gateway and control layer that routes requests to 500+ models, with observability, guardrails, budgets and an MCP Gateway.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agents
   FreemiumVisit Orq.ai (official site)
6. 

   Portkey

   AI gateway with observability, guardrails, caching and prompt management for teams running LLM apps in production.

   Developer platformsAutomation and agents
   FreemiumVisit Portkey (official site)

OrcaRouter FAQ

Sources & verification

Facts on this page come from the official sources below, each with the date we read it. Written by Debuly; the vendor did not review this page.

Image credits

• Logo: from orcarouter.ai · fetched 24 Oct 2026 · Vendor trademark, used only to identify the product; removed on request
• Cover: none collected yet, so a generated tile is shown.

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