omniroute

OmniRoute is a free, open-source AI gateway that runs entirely on your own machine, designed to solve one of the most frustrating problems developers face: hitting rate limits and quota caps in the middle of a coding session. Instead of managing multiple API keys and provider accounts manually, you point any coding tool at a single local endpoint, and OmniRoute automatically routes each request across 237 AI providers, over 90 of which offer free tiers. The core promise is simple: never stop coding. When one provider hits a limit, OmniRoute falls back to the next in milliseconds using a four-tier chain that starts with your existing subscriptions, slides to budget APIs, and finally lands on free-forever providers like Kiro AI, Pollinations, and OpenCode Zen. This makes OmniRoute ideal for developers using Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Cline, Copilot, Antigravity, and 24 more coding agents who want zero-configuration access to roughly 1.6 billion documented free tokens per month across 40-plus provider pools and 500-plus models. Privacy is built in from the ground up: OmniRoute is local-first with zero telemetry, meaning your prompts go straight from your machine to the provider with no middleman cloud. You can install it with a single npm command or run it via Docker, and the dashboard provides a live breakdown of used and remaining tokens. The project is MIT-licensed and completely free, with no signup fees or credit card required to get started.

Smart Auto-Fallback Routing

OmniRoute uses a four-tier fallback chain that automatically switches providers when you hit rate limits or quota caps. The chain prioritizes Subscription first, then moves to API, then Cheap, and finally Free providers. If your Claude Code or Copilot subscription runs out, OmniRoute slides to budget APIs and then to free-forever providers like Kiro AI, Pollinations, and OpenCode Zen. This happens in milliseconds with zero downtime, so your coding session never pauses.

RTK and Caveman Compression Engine

OmniRoute includes a stacked compression engine that rewrites verbose tool outputs before they reach the model. Git diffs, grep results, logs, and other wordy outputs are compressed using RTK and Caveman techniques, cutting 15 to 95 percent of eligible tokens. On tool-heavy coding sessions, this typically saves about 89 percent of tokens, which means you get more work done with fewer API calls and lower costs.

Zero-Config Smart Routing with Auto Mode

Set your model to auto and OmniRoute builds a virtual combo from all your connected providers, scored live on nine factors including health, quota, cost, latency, and more. You can choose from 17 routing strategies or let the auto mode handle everything. Specialized presets like auto/coding for quality-first code generation, auto/fast for lowest latency, auto/cheap for cheapest per token, and auto/offline for maximum quota headroom give you fine-grained control without manual configuration.

Local-First Privacy with Zero Telemetry

OmniRoute runs entirely on your own machine with no cloud middleman. Your prompts go straight from your computer to the AI provider, and there is no OmniRoute cloud in the request path. The software has zero telemetry, meaning no usage data is sent back to any server. You get complete control over your data and privacy, which is critical for developers working with proprietary code or sensitive information.

Never Stop Coding During Long Sessions

When you are deep in a coding session using Claude Code or Cursor, hitting a rate limit can break your flow and waste time. OmniRoute eliminates this problem by automatically failing over to the next available provider in milliseconds. You can work for hours without interruption, knowing that your tool will always find a working provider with available quota. This is especially valuable for developers who work on large projects with frequent API calls.

Cost-Free AI Access for Hobby Projects

Hobbyists and indie developers can use OmniRoute to access over 90 providers with free tiers and 11 free-forever providers like Kiro AI, Pollinations, and OpenCode Zen. The gateway aggregates roughly 1.6 billion documented free tokens per month across 40-plus provider pools. You can start building and experimenting with AI-powered coding tools without spending a cent, and the dashboard shows your live used and remaining tokens so you never accidentally exceed your limits.

Multi-Tool Development Workflows

Developers who switch between multiple coding agents like Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Cline, Copilot, and Antigravity can point all of them at one OmniRoute endpoint. This eliminates the need to configure API keys and base URLs for each tool individually. With a single configuration change, all your tools share the same provider pool and fallback logic, making it easy to maintain consistent access across your entire development environment.

Optimized Token Usage for Large Codebases

Teams working with large codebases generate massive amounts of tool output like git diffs, build logs, and grep results. OmniRoutes RTK and Caveman compression engine rewrites these verbose outputs before they reach the model, cutting 15 to 95 percent of eligible tokens. This means you can send more context and get better results from the same API budget, which is particularly useful for code review, debugging, and refactoring tasks that require deep understanding of the codebase.

How do I install OmniRoute?

Install OmniRoute with a single npm command: npm install -g omniroute. After installation, run the omniroute command to launch the dashboard at http://localhost:20128 with the API endpoint at http://localhost:20128/v1. You can also run it via Docker if you prefer containerized deployments. The setup takes about two minutes from start to finish.

Can I use OmniRoute with my existing subscriptions?

Yes, OmniRoute supports a four-tier fallback chain that starts with your existing subscriptions. It tracks your Claude Code or Copilot subscription and uses it as the first priority. When your subscription quota runs out, it automatically slides to budget APIs and then to free-forever providers. This means you get the most value from your paid subscriptions while having free fallback options available.

Is OmniRoute really free and open source?

Yes, OmniRoute is completely free and MIT-licensed. There are no signup fees, no credit card requirements, and no hidden costs. The software runs entirely on your own machine with no cloud dependency. You can access over 90 providers with free tiers and 11 free-forever providers, aggregating roughly 1.6 billion documented free tokens per month. The source code is available on GitHub for anyone to inspect, modify, or contribute to.

How does OmniRoute handle privacy and data security?

OmniRoute is local-first with zero telemetry, meaning your prompts go straight from your machine to the AI provider with no middleman cloud. There is no OmniRoute cloud in the request path, so your data never passes through an intermediate server. The software collects no usage data, no analytics, and no personally identifiable information. This makes it suitable for developers working with proprietary code, sensitive data, or in regulated industries.

OmniRoute is completely free and open source under the MIT license. There are no paid plans, no subscription tiers, and no hidden costs. You can install it, run it, and use it indefinitely without paying anything. The software gives you access to over 90 providers with free tiers, including 11 free-forever providers, aggregating roughly 1.6 billion documented free tokens per month. No credit card is required to get started, and there are no signup fees of any kind.