OpenRouter free models for writing
OpenRouter lets you use a set of models at no cost, with daily limits. Here is which ones are meant for general writing and how to use them in Chrome.
Published
The short answer
On 26 September 2026 OpenRouter listed 17 free models (IDs ending in :free) plus a free router. For emails, replies and rewrites, start with the openrouter/free router, or pick a general model such as Google Gemma 4 31B or Qwen3.8 27B if you want the same style every time. Free models allow 20 requests a minute and 50 a day, or 1,000 a day once you have bought 10 credits. You can use them in any text box in Chrome with ShroomPen, which connects to OpenRouter with one sign-in and selects the free router by default.
Free models suited to general writing
These are the free models whose own descriptions say they are general-purpose chat or instruction models. We grouped them by what their makers say they are for, not by our own quality tests, so try two or three on your real text.
| Model | Model ID | Context | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Models Router | openrouter/free | 200K | Picks a free model for each request. ShroomPen's default. |
| Google Gemma 4 31B | google/gemma-4-31b-it:free | 262K | General instruction-tuned model, text and image input |
| Google Gemma 4 26B A4B | google/gemma-4-26b-a4b-it:free | 262K | Smaller active size, usually faster |
| Qwen3.8 27B | qwen/qwen3.8-27b:free | 262K | General and professional tasks, optional thinking mode |
| NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Ultra | nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b:free | 1M | Large reasoning model; slower, good for longer text |
| NVIDIA Nemotron 3 Super | nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b:free | 262K | Mid-size general model |
| Thinking Machines Inkling | thinkingmachines/inkling:free | 1M | General-purpose reasoning model |
| Thinking Machines Inkling Small | thinkingmachines/inkling-small:free | 1M | Smaller sibling of Inkling |
| Dots3-Note Preview | dots-studio/dots-3-note-preview:free | 512K | Preview release; may change or disappear |
Free models that are not meant for writing
These are free too, but built for code, a specialist field, or moderation. Skip them for emails and posts.
| Model | Model ID | Context | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poolside Laguna S 2.1 | poolside/laguna-s-2.1:free | 262K | Coding agent model |
| Poolside Laguna XS 2.1 | poolside/laguna-xs-2.1:free | 262K | Coding agent model |
| Cohere North Mini Code | cohere/north-mini-code:free | 256K | Coding model |
| Ling 3.0 Flash Fin | inclusionai/ling-3.0-flash-fin:free | 262K | Finance-focused |
| Ling 3.0 Flash Sante | inclusionai/ling-3.0-flash-sante:free | 262K | Health and medicine-focused |
| Nemotron 3.5 Content Safety | nvidia/nemotron-3.5-content-safety:free | 128K | A moderation model, not a writer |
| Nemotron 3.5 Lightning | nvidia/nemotron-3.5-lightning:free | 1M | Built for high-volume agent tasks |
| Nemotron 3 Nano Omni | nvidia/nemotron-3-nano-omni-30b-a3b-reasoning:free | 256K | Built as a perception sub-agent |
| LiquidAI LFM2.5 2.6B | liquid/lfm-2.5-2.6b:free | 66K | Very small; extraction and RAG |
OpenRouter also listed an anonymous "stealth" model at no cost. Stealth models are temporary and their provider is not named, so don't send them anything private.
The limits
| Credits bought (all time) | Requests per minute | Requests per day |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 10 | 20 | 50 |
| 10 or more | 20 | 1,000 |
- The daily count covers all free models together, not each model separately.
- If your balance goes negative, OpenRouter may refuse even free requests with a 402 error until you top up.
- 50 a day is enough for a normal day of emails and replies. If you rewrite a lot, a one-time $10 top-up lifts you to 1,000 a day. OpenRouter adds a 5.5% card fee ($0.80 minimum) when you buy credits.
Privacy on free models
OpenRouter says it does not store your prompts unless you opt in. The provider that serves the model has its own policy, and some providers may train on prompts. OpenRouter's privacy settings have separate switches for free and paid models that decide whether your requests may go to those providers. For confidential text, check those switches, use a paid model with a provider you trust, or use a local model. See what "safe for confidential information" means for a longer take.
Use free OpenRouter models in any text box
Install ShroomPen
Add the free ShroomPen extension to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store.
Get ShroomPen from the Chrome Web Store. It is free and has no ShroomPen account.
Open the setup wizard
Press Ctrl+Q on any web page, accept the data disclosure, and choose OpenRouter in the setup wizard.
Sign in to OpenRouter
Click Continue with OpenRouter, sign in or create a free OpenRouter account, and authorise ShroomPen. OpenRouter returns a key, which ShroomPen keeps in local extension storage in your browser.
Keep or change the free model
The OpenRouter Free Router is selected by default. To use one specific model, pick one marked Free in the model list.
ShroomPen shows a few recommended models first, then "All OpenRouter models" with free ones sorted to the top and marked Free.
Write
Click into a text field, open ShroomPen, describe what you need, and insert the draft.
If free models get slow or hit the limit, a cheap paid model costs a fraction of a cent per reply. See what a reply costs with your own key.
Related pages
Questions
Are OpenRouter free models really free?
Yes, models with an ID ending in :free, and the openrouter/free router, cost nothing per request. They are rate limited: 20 requests a minute, and 50 requests a day until you have bought at least 10 credits, then 1,000 a day.
What is openrouter/free?
A router that picks a free model at random from the ones available, filtered for the features your request needs. It saves you choosing a model, but the writing style can change from one request to the next.
Why do I get a 402 error on a free model?
OpenRouter says a negative credit balance can cause 402 errors even for free models. Adding credits so the balance is above zero fixes it.
Is it private to use free models?
Your text goes to OpenRouter and to the provider serving the model. OpenRouter has separate privacy settings for free and paid models that control whether it may route to providers that train on your prompts. Check them before you send anything confidential.
Do I need a credit card?
Not for free models. You need an OpenRouter account. Buying 10 credits once raises the free daily limit from 50 to 1,000 requests.