Side by side
| Feature | Google AI Studio | OpenRouter |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Browser-based workspace for developers to prototype with Gemini and other Google AI models, then move the same work to production via the Gemini API. | A unified API and chat interface giving access to 500+ AI models from 80+ providers, for developers and teams who want one key and better uptime. |
| Price from | 0,75 USD | not listed |
| Free plan | ? | yes |
| Platforms | web, api | web, api |
| API | yes | yes |
Google AI Studio: key features
- Interactive prompt testing with Gemini 3, Nano Banana, Veo, Gemini TTS, Gemini Live, Omni and Lyria
- API key management and resource usage monitoring
- Official SDKs for Python, JavaScript, Go, Java and C++
- Interactions API for stateful multi-turn agents with managed tool execution
- Function calling and native tools including Search and Maps grounding
- Remixable project gallery of sample apps
OpenRouter: key features
- Single OpenAI-compatible API key for 500+ models from 80+ providers
- Automatic fallback to other providers when one goes down
- Chat interface for trying models directly
- Model rankings, benchmarks and price comparison
- Activity logs and export
- Budgets, spend controls and data policy-based routing on paid plans
FAQ
Is Google AI Studio or OpenRouter better?
It depends on the job - compare prices, free plans and features in the table above.
Are Google AI Studio and OpenRouter free?
Google AI Studio: The vendor does not state this clearly on the homepage or pricing page. OpenRouter: Yes, there is a free plan. Free plan: 25+ free models, 4 free providers, chat and API access, activity logs, 5 workspaces, 50 requests/day, community support.