RelayPlane vs OpenRouter
Both are AI model routing tools, but they solve different problems. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose.
TL;DR
Choose RelayPlane if you want:
- Automatic cost optimization (save 30-50%)
- Open source, self-hostable proxy
- Privacy-first design (no prompt logging)
- Works with existing API keys
Choose OpenRouter if you want:
- Unified billing across all providers
- Simple pay-as-you-go without setup
- Access to models you don't have keys for
- Mature ecosystem and integrations
Feature Comparison
| Feature | RelayPlane | OpenRouter |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent routing (task-based) RelayPlane's Swarm analyzes task complexity to choose optimal model | ||
| Multi-provider aggregation Both support Anthropic, OpenAI, and other providers | ||
| Open source proxy RelayPlane proxy is MIT-licensed, OpenRouter is proprietary | ||
| Self-hosted option Run RelayPlane proxy on your own infrastructure | ||
| Works offline RelayPlane has offline mode with static rules | ||
| Unified API format Both provide unified interface across providers | ||
| Cost tracking dashboard | ||
| Real-time cost optimization RelayPlane actively routes to cheapest capable model | ||
| Provider fallback on errors | ||
| Rate limit handling | ||
| Privacy-first (no prompt logging) RelayPlane never logs prompts; OpenRouter may for debugging | varies | |
| Telemetry opt-out | ||
| Learning from usage patterns RelayPlane Swarm improves routing over time | ||
| Model-to-model fallback |
Pricing Comparison
RelayPlane
- Free tier$0 forever, ~30% savings
- Pro tier$29/month, ~50% savings
- Max tier$99/month, full enterprise features
- API pricing markupNone (use your own keys)
You use your own API keys — no markup on provider prices.
OpenRouter
- Free tierPay-as-you-go only
- Pro tierNo equivalent (usage-based)
- Max tierCustom pricing
- API pricing markupSmall markup on provider prices
Unified billing — one invoice for all providers.
Use Case Comparison
Coding Agents
RelayPlane winsFor agents that write, review, and modify code
Excellent - optimizes between fast models for simple edits and powerful models for architecture decisions
Good - provides unified access but no task-aware optimization
Chatbots
TieFor conversational AI applications
Good - routes based on conversation complexity
Good - easy integration with multiple providers
Data Processing
RelayPlane winsFor batch processing large datasets
Excellent - significant cost savings on repetitive tasks
Good - unified API simplifies implementation
Multi-Provider Fallback
TieWhen you need reliability across providers
Good - automatic fallback with optimization
Excellent - mature fallback system
Privacy-Sensitive
RelayPlane winsWhen data privacy is critical
Excellent - open source, self-hosted, no logging
Varies - depends on configuration
Key Differences
Different Problems
RelayPlane optimizes which model handles each request to reduce costs while maintaining quality. OpenRouter aggregates providers so you can access any model through a single API.
Different Business Models
RelayPlane is open source with optional paid Swarm routing. You use your own API keys. OpenRouter is a marketplace with unified billing and a small markup on usage.
Different Philosophies
RelayPlane believes AI agents are currently overspending by using expensive models for simple tasks. OpenRouter believes the friction of managing multiple provider accounts holds back AI adoption.