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AI · head to head

Modal vs OpenRouter

Modal logo

Modal

AI

Cloud functions for AI and ML

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
OpenRouter logo

OpenRouter

Machine Learning

Unified API gateway routing requests across 500+ models from 80+ providers

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Modal the Team plan carries a $250 monthly base fee and returns only $100 of that as free credits, so $150 is a flat charge before any compute; OpenRouter no free tier; all usage incurs cost
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Modal and OpenRouter actually diverge.

Attributes where Modal and OpenRouter differ
AttributeModalOpenRouter
PlatformsCloud, ApiAPI, Web
CategoryAIMachine Learning
Founded2021Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (usage-based), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Modal

  • Serverless GPUs
  • Python functions
  • Auto-scaling
  • Fast cold starts
  • Python SDK
  • GitHub Actions
  • Cloud storage
  • Cloud support

Only in OpenRouter

Nothing recorded that Modal does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Modal

  • Running serverless GPU workloads for model inference and trainingnot OpenRouter
  • Executing Python functions on cloud compute without managing serversnot OpenRouter

OpenRouter

  • Multi-model applications optimising for cost or performancenot Modal
  • Provider-agnostic deployments avoiding vendor lock-innot Modal
  • Enterprise applications with custom data policies and provider requirementsnot Modal
  • Development workflows testing multiple models without code changesnot Modal

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Modal

  • The Team plan carries a $250 monthly base fee and returns only $100 of that as free credits, so $150 is a flat charge before any compute
  • Compute is billed per second across separate GPU and CPU meters, so total cost depends on execution time rather than any fixed rate
  • The Starter plan's $30 monthly free credit is the only allowance below the paid base fee
  • Enterprise volume discounts are custom and unpublished

OpenRouter

  • No free tier; all usage incurs cost
  • Pricing varies by model; specific rates not published on main site without account access
  • Adds latency through additional routing layer compared to direct provider APIs
  • Dependent on upstream provider uptime and API compatibility

Pricing, plan by plan

Modal

Free
  • StarterFree
    • 3 seats
    • 100 containers
    • 10 GPU concurrency
  • Team$250/month
    • Unlimited seats
    • 5,000 containers
    • 50 GPU concurrency
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom seats, containers, and GPU concurrency

OpenRouter

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 requests per day
    • Access to 25+ free models across 4 providers
    • Community support
  • Pay-as-you-go$null/variable
    • 5.5% platform fee on inference costs
    • Access to 500+ models across 80+ providers
    • Email support
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Negotiable platform fees
    • 200,000 USD of list price inference per month with no fees, then 5% fee after
    • SSO/SAML support

Which should you pick?

Choose Modal if

  • You need serverless gpus.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Cloud, Api.
  • You also want python functions.
Modal review

Choose OpenRouter if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on API, Web.
OpenRouter review

Questions people ask

Is Modal or OpenRouter better?
Neither clearly leads. Modal starts at Free and OpenRouter at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Modal or OpenRouter?
Modal starts at Free and OpenRouter at Free.
Does Modal or OpenRouter run on more platforms?
Modal runs on Cloud, Api. OpenRouter runs on API, Web.
Can I use Modal for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Modal best used for?
Modal is most often used for running serverless gpu workloads for model inference and training, executing python functions on cloud compute without managing servers. Of those, running serverless gpu workloads for model inference and training and executing python functions on cloud compute without managing servers are not what OpenRouter is typically brought in for.
What can Modal do that OpenRouter cannot?
Modal covers Serverless GPUs, Python functions, Auto-scaling, Fast cold starts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Modal: How much does Modal cost?

Modal uses pay-as-you-go pricing with Team plan at 250 USD/month base. Starter includes 30 USD/month free credits; Team includes 100 USD/month free credits. Compute charges per second for CPU cores, memory, and GPU instances.

Source
OpenRouter: How much does OpenRouter charge?

OpenRouter charges a 5.5% platform fee on top of the actual inference costs from selected models. Customers purchase credits on a pay-as-you-go basis with no subscriptions or minimum spend requirements.

Source
Modal: Is there a free tier?

Yes, Starter plan is free plus 30 USD/month in compute credits included monthly for new users.

Source
OpenRouter: Is there a free tier?

Yes. OpenRouter offers a free tier with 50 requests per day and access to 25+ free models across 4 providers. The free tier provides community support only.

Source
Modal: What are the seat limits?

Starter plan includes 3 seats; Team plan provides unlimited seats; Enterprise tier has custom seat allocations.

Source
OpenRouter: What does the Enterprise plan include?

The Enterprise plan includes 200,000 USD of list price inference per month at no cost, with a 5% platform fee applied to usage above that threshold. It also includes SSO/SAML support, contractual SLAs, and dedicated support with a shared Slack channel.

Source
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