Six Free LLM API Gateways Tested: What Each Tier Actually Delivers

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A developer reviewed six LLM API gateways in September 2026 by querying endpoints directly, rather than relying on provider marketing pages. OpenRouter offers 50 requests per day until a user deposits $10 in lifetime credit, after which the limit rises to 1,000 per day. LiteLLM is free open-source software but requires users to supply their own provider keys, servers, and infrastructure. The author, who runs FreeModel, noted that model counts across gateways are unreliable because they often bundle routing aliases, image models, and deprecated entries alongside active text models. Key evaluation criteria highlighted include whether limits are transparent without authentication, whether fallback routing is automatic, and whether hitting a free-tier cap silently triggers billing.

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