Best LLM routers and inference providers
Serve many models through one API, or run open models on fast hosted hardware without managing GPUs.
Ranked by score on our 100-point rubric (how we score). Scores are initial editorial estimates from public information, not hands-on tests. Pricing is labeled verified (checked on the vendor's official pricing page, with date) or unverified.
Quick picks
| # | Tool | Tier | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenRouter One API for hundreds of models | A | 83 |
| 2 | Groq Ultra-fast LLM inference | A | 72 |
| 3 | Together AI Inference and fine-tuning for open models | A | 71 |
The ranking
-
Unified, OpenAI-compatible API and router for models from many providers with fallbacks.
- Best for
- You want to switch models without rewriting code.
- Skip it if
- You need direct enterprise contracts with one provider.
- Pricing
- Pay-per-token at provider prices plus a small fee; some free models unverified editorial summary, not yet confirmed on an official pricing page
- Platforms
- API
-
Inference cloud on custom LPU hardware serving open models at very high tokens per second.
- Best for
- Latency matters, e.g. voice agents.
- Skip it if
- You need proprietary frontier models.
- Pricing
- Free tier; pay-per-token unverified editorial summary, not yet confirmed on an official pricing page
- Platforms
- API
-
Cloud for running and fine-tuning hundreds of open models with serverless and dedicated options.
- Best for
- You want hosted open models and fine-tuning.
- Skip it if
- You only need one proprietary model.
- Pricing
- Pay-per-token; GPU clusters available unverified editorial summary, not yet confirmed on an official pricing page
- Platforms
- API
FAQ
What is the best AI tool for LLM routers and inference providers?
OpenRouter ranks first with 83/100 (A-tier). One API for hundreds of models. Use it when you want to switch models without rewriting code. Next in our ranking: Groq (72/100, A-tier) and Together AI (71/100, A-tier).
Which AI tools for LLM routers and inference providers have a free tier?
In our pricing data, OpenRouter (unverified) and Groq (unverified) list a free tier. "Unverified" means it is an editorial summary we have not yet confirmed on the vendor's official pricing page, so check the vendor before relying on it.
How are these tools ranked?
Each tool is scored out of 100 on our public rubric: job fit (30), ease (15), value (15), momentum (15), openness and portability (10), trust and maturity (10) and a builder/gamer bonus (5). S-tier is 85+, A-tier 70–84, B-tier 55–69 and C-tier below 55. Current scores are initial editorial estimates from public information, not hands-on tests, and sponsors can't buy points.