AIPower vs OpenRouter: Price & Feature Comparison 2026
April 15, 2026 · 6 min read
OpenRouter and AIPower are both AI API gateways that provide unified access to multiple AI models. But they serve different markets and have different strengths. Here's a detailed comparison.
Model Coverage
| Feature | AIPower | OpenRouter |
|---|---|---|
| Total Models | 16 curated | 300+ |
| Chinese Models | 10 (DeepSeek, Qwen, GLM, Kimi, Doubao, MiniMax) | Limited |
| Western Models | 6 (GPT-5.4, Claude, Gemini) | Extensive |
| Smart Routing | Yes (auto, auto-code, auto-cheap) | No |
What You Get with AIPower
AIPower gives you 16 models including 10 Chinese AI models (DeepSeek, Qwen, GLM, Kimi, Doubao, MiniMax) plus GPT-5.4, Claude, and Gemini through one OpenAI-compatible API. Smart routing automatically picks the optimal model for each task — saving 80-90% vs using a single premium model for everything.
Plus: WeChat Pay support, free tier with 50 calls (no credit card), and the cheapest model in the industry — GLM-4 Flash at $0.01/M tokens.
When to Use AIPower
- You need access to Chinese AI models (DeepSeek, Qwen, GLM, Kimi, Doubao)
- You want the cheapest possible pricing for Chinese models
- You need WeChat Pay or Alipay payment
- You want smart routing to auto-select models
- You need a curated selection of the best models, not 300+ options
When to Use OpenRouter
- You need access to niche or specialized models
- You want the widest model selection possible
- You need BYOK (Bring Your Own Keys) for existing API keys
Conclusion
If you primarily work with Chinese AI models or want the cheapest access to DeepSeek and Qwen, AIPower is the clear winner. OpenRouter is better if you need access to hundreds of niche models. Many developers use both.