# Source: https://docs.pipecat.ai/server/services/llm/openrouter.md

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pipecat.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# OpenRouter

> LLM service implementation using OpenRouter's API with OpenAI-compatible interface

## Overview

`OpenRouterLLMService` provides access to OpenRouter's language models through an OpenAI-compatible interface. It inherits from `OpenAILLMService` and supports streaming responses, function calling, and context management with access to multiple model providers through a single API.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="OpenRouter LLM API Reference" icon="code" href="https://reference-server.pipecat.ai/en/latest/api/pipecat.services.openrouter.llm.html">
    Pipecat's API methods for OpenRouter integration
  </Card>

  <Card title="Example Implementation" icon="play" href="https://github.com/pipecat-ai/pipecat/blob/main/examples/foundational/14m-function-calling-openrouter.py">
    Complete example with function calling
  </Card>

  <Card title="OpenRouter Documentation" icon="book" href="https://openrouter.ai/docs/api-reference/chat-completion">
    Official OpenRouter API documentation and features
  </Card>

  <Card title="OpenRouter Platform" icon="microphone" href="https://openrouter.ai/">
    Access multiple model providers and manage API keys
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Installation

To use OpenRouter services, install the required dependencies:

```bash  theme={null}
pip install "pipecat-ai[openrouter]"
```

## Prerequisites

### OpenRouter Account Setup

Before using OpenRouter LLM services, you need:

1. **OpenRouter Account**: Sign up at [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/)
2. **API Key**: Generate an API key from your account dashboard
3. **Model Selection**: Choose from hundreds of available models from different providers
4. **Credits**: Add credits to your account for model usage

### Required Environment Variables

* `OPENROUTER_API_KEY`: Your OpenRouter API key for authentication