What is 9Router?
9Router is a free intelligent AI router that acts as a single OpenAI-compatible gateway between your development tools (Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Cline, Copilot, etc.) and over 60 AI providers. Its core feature is a smart 3-tier fallback system that automatically switches models when subscription limits are reached.
How 3-Tier Fallback Works
The system is divided into three levels:
Tier 1 — your paid subscriptions (Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Gemini, GitHub Copilot).
Tier 2 — cheap models (GLM, MiniMax, Kimi).
Tier 3 — completely free unlimited models (iFlow, Qwen, Kiro, OpenCode).
When Tier 1 hits its limit, 9Router instantly switches to Tier 2, then to free Tier 3. This maximizes the value of all your subscriptions and ensures zero downtime.
Supported Capabilities
One endpoint gives access to: Chat/LLM, Embeddings, Text-to-Speech (ElevenLabs, Deepgram, AWS Polly, etc.), Speech-to-Text (Deepgram, Whisper), Image Generation (Flux, Stability, Recraft), Vision, Video Generation (Runway, Topaz), and Web Search.
Integrations and Ease of Use
Simply run npm install -g 9router. All CLIs and IDEs then point to localhost:20128. Supports OAuth, API keys, and browser cookies. The built-in dashboard tracks quotas and usage in real time.
Pros and Cons
Advantages: saves 20–65% tokens with RTK & Caveman, zero downtime, 60+ providers, free tier, easy setup.
Disadvantages: requires initial key configuration, quality of Tier 3 free models may be lower than premium options.
9Router is perfect for developers who actively use multiple AI tools and want to eliminate limits and interruptions in their workflow.
