OpenRouter API Key
OpenRouter is an API gateway that gives you access to models from Google, Anthropic, OpenAI, and more — all through one API key. OpenMind uses it to power the AI conversation.
What you'll need
- - A Google or GitHub account (for sign-up)
- - No credit card required — free credits available
Create an Account
Go to openrouter.ai and sign up with Google or GitHub.
It takes 30 seconds. No credit card needed.
Generate an API Key
Go to openrouter.ai/keys.
Click Create Key.
Name it something like OpenMind and click Create.
Your key will look something like:
sk-or-v1-abc123def456... Copy it immediately — you can't view it again after leaving the page.
Choose a Model
During OpenMind setup, you'll pick your LLM model:
Recommendation: Start with google/gemini-2.5-pro (default). It's smart, fast, and cheap. You can always switch later with openmind setup model.
Add Credits (Optional)
New accounts often come with free credits. If you run out, you can add more at openrouter.ai/credits.
Typical costs for a study session:
Security
Your API key is stored locally at ~/.openmind/config.json with restricted permissions. It is sent only to openrouter.ai for model requests. Your conversations pass through OpenRouter to the model provider — see the OpenRouter privacy policy for details.