OpenRouter API — Setup Guide

What OpenRouter Is Used For

The OpenRouter API is used exclusively in Longread mode. It provides access to an extended set of AI models for deep research, competitor analysis, and writing long-form articles. Without OpenRouter, longread generation is not possible.

OpenRouter is not needed for standard articles.

Step 1: Sign Up at OpenRouter

1. Go to openrouter.ai

2. Click Sign in and log in with Google or GitHub

Step 2: Add Credits

1. Go to the Credits section in the top menu

2. Click Buy Credits

3. Minimum top-up: $5

OpenRouter uses a pay-as-you-go model — you only pay for tokens used. One longread costs approximately $0.10–0.30 depending on length.

Step 3: Create an API Key

1. Go to the Keys section in the top menu

2. Click Create Key

3. Give it a name, e.g. "AI SEO Writer"

4. Copy the key — it starts with sk-or-

Step 4: Add to AI SEO Writer

1. Go to Account → My API Keys

2. Find the OpenRouter API row

3. Click Add, paste the key, and click Save

System Key as Fallback

If you don't add a personal key, longread generation still works via the system OpenRouter key. However, the system key shares a request pool with all users — during high load you may experience delays. We recommend using your own key for consistent performance.

Plan Availability

Longreads are available on Starter, Pro, and Agency plans. Longreads are not available on the Free plan.