OpenRouter launches a new version of its provider router, rewarding high-quality inference based on actual cost

OpenRouter has released the largest improvement to its provider router since its founding. The new router no longer primarily ranks by price, but instead rewards the highest-quality inference based on the actual cost of a request, keeping requests low-cost while also balancing speed and reliability. Providers that deliver higher value automatically receive more traffic, giving them an incentive to keep improving, and as providers improve, users' inference experience on OpenRouter improves in tandem.