9Router - FREE AI Router & Token Saver
Never stop coding. Save 20-40% tokens with RTK + auto-fallback to FREE & cheap AI models.
Connect All AI Code Tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Antigravity, Copilot, Codex, Gemini, OpenCode, Cline, OpenClaw...) to 40+ AI Providers & 100+ Models.
🚀 Quick Start • 💡 Features • 📖 Setup • 🌐 Website
🇻🇳 Tiếng Việt • 🇨🇳 中文 • 🇯🇵 日本語 • 🇷🇺 Русский
🤔 Why 9Router?
Stop wasting money, tokens and hitting limits:
- ❌ Subscription quota expires unused every month
- ❌ Rate limits stop you mid-coding
- ❌ Tool outputs (git diff, grep, ls...) burn tokens fast
- ❌ Expensive APIs ($20-50/month per provider)
- ❌ Manual switching between providers
9Router solves this:
- ✅ RTK Token Saver - Auto-compress tool_result content, save 20-40% tokens per request
- ✅ Maximize subscriptions - Track quota, use every bit before reset
- ✅ Auto fallback - Subscription → Cheap → Free, zero downtime
- ✅ Multi-account - Round-robin between accounts per provider
- ✅ Universal - Works with Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Cline, any CLI tool
🔄 How It Works
┌─────────────┐
│ Your CLI │ (Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, Cursor, Cline...)
│ Tool │
└──────┬──────┘
│ http://localhost:20128/v1
↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 9Router (Smart Router) │
│ • RTK Token Saver (cut tool_result tokens) │
│ • Format translation (OpenAI ↔ Claude) │
│ • Quota tracking │
│ • Auto token refresh │
└──────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
│
├─→ [Tier 1: SUBSCRIPTION] Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot
│ ↓ quota exhausted
├─→ [Tier 2: CHEAP] GLM ($0.6/1M), MiniMax ($0.2/1M)
│ ↓ budget limit
└─→ [Tier 3: FREE] Kiro, OpenCode Free, Vertex ($300 credits)
Result: Never stop coding, minimal cost + 20-40% token savings via RTK
⚡ Quick Start
1. Install globally:
npm install -g 9router
9router
🎉 Dashboard opens at http://localhost:20128
2. Connect a FREE provider (no signup needed):
Dashboard → Providers → Connect Kiro AI (free Claude unlimited) or OpenCode Free (no auth) → Done!
3. Use in your CLI tool:
Claude Code/Codex/OpenClaw/Cursor/Cline Settings:
Endpoint: http://localhost:20128/v1
API Key: [copy from dashboard]
Model: kr/claude-sonnet-4.5
That's it! Start coding with FREE AI models.
Alternative: run from source (this repository):
This repository package is private (9router-app), so source/Docker execution is the expected local development path.
cp .env.example .env
npm install
PORT=20128 NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:20128 npm run dev
Production mode:
npm run build
PORT=20128 HOSTNAME=0.0.0.0 NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:20128 npm run start
Default URLs:
- Dashboard:
http://localhost:20128/dashboard - OpenAI-compatible API:
http://localhost:20128/v1
Video Guides
🎬 Made a video about 9Router? Submit a Pull Request adding your video to this section — we'll merge it!
🛠️ Supported CLI Tools
9Router works seamlessly with all major AI coding tools:
🌐 Supported Providers
🔐 OAuth Providers
🆓 Free Providers
Note: iFlow, Qwen and Gemini CLI free tiers were discontinued in 2026. Use Kiro / OpenCode Free / Vertex instead.
🔑 API Key Providers (40+)
💡 Key Features
| Feature | What It Does | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 🚀 RTK Token Saver (RTK ⭐40K) | Compress tool outputs (git diff, grep, ls, tree...) before sending to LLM |
Save 20-40% input tokens per request |
| 🧠 Headroom Token Saver (Headroom) | Optional external /v1/compress proxy before provider routing |
Save more context tokens without changing clients |
| 🪨 Caveman Mode (Caveman ⭐52K) | Inject caveman-speak prompt → LLM replies terse, technical substance preserved | Save up to 65% output tokens |
| 🐴 Ponytail (Ponytail) | Inject "lazy senior dev" prompt → LLM writes minimal, YAGNI-first code (Lite/Full/Ultra) | Fewer output tokens, less refactoring |
| 🎯 Smart 3-Tier Fallback | Auto-route: Subscription → Cheap → Free | Never stop coding, zero downtime |
| 📊 Real-Time Quota Tracking | Live token count + reset countdown | Maximize subscription value |
| 🔄 Format Translation | OpenAI ↔ Claude ↔ Gemini ↔ Cursor ↔ Kiro ↔ Vertex | Works with any CLI tool |
| 👥 Multi-Account Support | Multiple accounts per provider | Load balancing + redundancy |
| 🔄 Auto Token Refresh | OAuth tokens refresh automatically | No manual re-login needed |
| 🎨 Custom Combos | Create unlimited model combinations | Tailor fallback to your needs |
| 📝 Request Logging | Debug mode with full request/response logs | Troubleshoot issues easily |
| 💾 Cloud Sync | Sync config across devices | Same setup everywhere |
| 📊 Usage Analytics | Track tokens, cost, trends over time | Optimize spending |
| 🌐 Deploy Anywhere | Localhost, VPS, Docker, Cloudflare Workers | Flexible deployment options |
🚀 RTK Token Saver
Tool outputs (git diff, grep, find, ls, tree, log dumps...) often eat 30-50% of your prompt budget. RTK detects them and applies smart, lossless compression before the request hits the LLM:
- Filters:
git-diff,git-status,grep,find,ls,tree,dedup-log,smart-truncate,read-numbered,search-list - Auto-detect: No config needed — RTK peeks the first 1KB of each
tool_resultand picks the right filter. - Safe by design: If a filter fails, throws, or makes output bigger, RTK silently keeps the original text. Errors never break your request.
- Universal: Works across all formats (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Cursor, Kiro, OpenAI Responses) because it runs before any format translation.
- Default ON: Toggle anytime in Dashboard → Endpoint settings.
Without RTK: 47K tokens sent to LLM
With RTK: 28K tokens sent to LLM (40% saved · same context · same answer)
🧠 Headroom Token Saver
Headroom is optional and runs separately. 9Router calls Headroom's local /v1/compress endpoint, then keeps normal routing, fallback, auth, and usage tracking:
Client → 9Router → Headroom /v1/compress → 9Router → provider
Local setup:
pip install "headroom-ai[proxy]"
headroom proxy --port 8787
Enable in Dashboard → Endpoint → Token Saver → Headroom. Default URL: http://localhost:8787.
Docker examples:
# Headroom service in same Docker network
http://headroom:8787
# Headroom running on host machine
http://host.docker.internal:8787
If Headroom is down or returns an error, 9Router fails open and sends the original request.
🐴 Ponytail (Lazy Senior Dev)
Ponytail injects a "lazy senior dev" system prompt into every request, biasing the LLM toward minimal, YAGNI-first code — deletion over addition, stdlib over new deps, one-liners over abstractions. Adapted from DietrichGebert/ponytail.
- Lite — Build what's asked, name the lazier alternative.
- Full — YAGNI ladder enforced: stdlib → native → existing deps → one-liner → minimal code.
- Ultra — YAGNI extremist: deletion first, ship the one-liner, challenge the rest of the requirement in the same response.
Without Ponytail: verbose code, extra abstractions, "just in case" scaffolding
With Ponytail: shortest working diff, no unrequested abstractions, fewer tokens
Never trades away: input validation, error handling that prevents data loss, security, accessibility, or anything explicitly requested. Enable in Dashboard → Endpoint → Ponytail. Stacks with Caveman (output terseness) and RTK (input compression).
🎯 Smart 3-Tier Fallback
Create combos with automatic fallback:
Combo: "my-coding-stack"
1. cc/claude-opus-4-6 (your subscription)
2. glm/glm-4.7 (cheap backup, $0.6/1M)
3. if/kimi-k2-thinking (free fallback)
→ Auto switches when quota runs out or errors occur
📊 Real-Time Quota Tracking
- Token consumption per provider
- Reset countdown (5-hour, daily, weekly)
- Cost estimation for paid tiers
- Monthly spending reports
🔄 Format Translation
Seamless translation between formats:
- OpenAI ↔ Claude ↔ Gemini ↔ Cursor ↔ Kiro ↔ Vertex ↔ Antigravity ↔ Ollama ↔ OpenAI Responses
- Your CLI tool sends OpenAI format → 9Router translates → Provider receives native format
- Works with any tool that supports custom OpenAI endpoints
👥 Multi-Account Support
- Add multiple accounts per provider
- Auto round-robin or priority-based routing
- Fallback to next account when one hits quota
🔄 Auto Token Refresh
- OAuth tokens automatically refresh before expiration
- No manual re-authentication needed
- Seamless experience across all providers
🎨 Custom Combos
- Create unlimited model combinations
- Mix subscription, cheap, and free tiers
- Name your combos for easy access
- Share combos across devices with Cloud Sync
📝 Request Logging
- Enable debug mode for full request/response logs
- Track API calls, headers, and payloads
- Troubleshoot integration issues
- Export logs for analysis
💾 Cloud Sync
- Sync providers, combos, and settings across devices
- Automatic background sync
- Secure encrypted storage
- Access your setup from anywhere
Cloud Runtime Notes
- Prefer server-side cloud variables in production:
BASE_URL(internal callback URL used by sync scheduler)CLOUD_URL(cloud sync endpoint base)
NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URLandNEXT_PUBLIC_CLOUD_URLare still supported for compatibility/UI, but server runtime now prioritizesBASE_URL/CLOUD_URL.- Cloud sync requests now use timeout + fail-fast behavior to avoid UI hanging when cloud DNS/network is unavailable.
📊 Usage Analytics
- Track token usage per provider and model
- Cost estimation and spending trends
- Monthly reports and insights
- Optimize your AI spending
💡 IMPORTANT - Understanding Dashboard Costs:
The "cost" displayed in Usage Analytics is for tracking and comparison purposes only. 9Router itself never charges you anything. You only pay providers directly (if using paid services).
Example: If your dashboard shows "$290 total cost" while using iFlow models, this represents what you would have paid using paid APIs directly. Your actual cost = $0 (iFlow is free unlimited).
Think of it as a "savings tracker" showing how much you're saving by using free models or routing through 9Router!
🌐 Deploy Anywhere
- 💻 Localhost - Default, works offline
- ☁️ VPS/Cloud - Share across devices
- 🐳 Docker - One-command deployment
- 🚀 Cloudflare Workers - Global edge network
💰 Pricing at a Glance
| Tier | Provider | Cost | Quota Reset | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🚀 TOKEN SAVER | RTK (built-in) | FREE | Always on | Save 20-40% tokens on EVERY request |
| 💳 SUBSCRIPTION | Claude Code (Pro/Max) | $20-200/mo | 5h + weekly | Already subscribed |
| Codex (Plus/Pro) | $20-200/mo | 5h + weekly | OpenAI users | |
| GitHub Copilot | $10-19/mo | Monthly | GitHub users | |
| Cursor IDE | $20/mo | Monthly | Cursor users | |
| 💰 CHEAP | GLM-5.1 / GLM-4.7 | $0.6/1M | Daily 10AM | Budget backup |
| MiniMax M2.7 | $0.2/1M | 5-hour rolling | Cheapest option | |
| Kimi K2.5 | $9/mo flat | 10M tokens/mo | Predictable cost | |
| 🆓 FREE | Kiro AI | $0 | Unlimited | Claude 4.5 + GLM-5 + MiniMax free |
| OpenCode Free | $0 | Unlimited | No auth, auto-fetch models | |
| Vertex AI | $300 credits | New GCP accounts | Gemini 3 Pro + DeepSeek + GLM-5 |
💡 Pro Tip: RTK + Kiro AI + OpenCode Free combo = $0 cost + 20-40% token savings!
📊 Understanding 9Router Costs & Billing
9Router Billing Reality:
✅ 9Router software = FREE forever (open source, never charges)
✅ Dashboard "costs" = Display/tracking only (not actual bills)
✅ You pay providers directly (subscriptions or API fees)
✅ FREE providers stay FREE (iFlow, Kiro, Qwen = $0 unlimited)
❌ 9Router never sends invoices or charges your card
How Cost Display Works:
The dashboard shows estimated costs as if you were using paid APIs directly. This is not billing - it's a comparison tool to show your savings.
Example Scenario:
Dashboard Display:
• Total Requests: 1,662
• Total Tokens: 47M
• Display Cost: $290
Reality Check:
• Provider: iFlow (FREE unlimited)
• Actual Payment: $0.00
• What $290 Means: Amount you SAVED by using free models!
Payment Rules:
- Subscription providers (Claude Code, Codex): Pay them directly via their websites
- Cheap providers (GLM, MiniMax): Pay them directly, 9Router just routes
- FREE providers (iFlow, Kiro, Qwen): Genuinely free forever, no hidden charges
- 9Router: Never charges anything, ever
🎯 Use Cases
Case 1: "I have Claude Pro subscription"
Problem: Quota expires unused, rate limits during heavy coding
Solution:
Combo: "maximize-claude"
1. cc/claude-opus-4-7 (use subscription fully)
2. glm/glm-5.1 (cheap backup when quota out)
3. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5 (free emergency fallback)
Monthly cost: $20 (subscription) + ~$5 (backup) = $25 total
vs. $20 + hitting limits = frustration
Case 2: "I want zero cost"
Problem: Can't afford subscriptions, need reliable AI coding
Solution:
Combo: "free-forever"
1. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5 (Claude 4.5 free unlimited)
2. kr/glm-5 (GLM-5 free via Kiro)
3. oc/<auto> (OpenCode Free, no auth)
Monthly cost: $0
Quality: Production-ready models + RTK saves 20-40% tokens
Case 3: "I need 24/7 coding, no interruptions"
Problem: Deadlines, can't afford downtime
Solution:
Combo: "always-on"
1. cc/claude-opus-4-7 (best quality)
2. cx/gpt-5.5 (second subscription)
3. glm/glm-5.1 (cheap, resets daily)
4. minimax/MiniMax-M2.7 (cheapest, 5h reset)
5. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5 (free unlimited)
Result: 5 layers of fallback = zero downtime
Monthly cost: $20-200 (subscriptions) + $10-20 (backup)
Case 4: "I want FREE AI in OpenClaw"
Problem: Need AI assistant in messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack...), completely free
Solution:
Combo: "openclaw-free"
1. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5 (Claude 4.5 free)
2. kr/glm-5 (GLM-5 free)
3. kr/MiniMax-M2.5 (MiniMax free)
Monthly cost: $0
Access via: WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage, Signal...
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The dashboard tracks your token usage and displays estimated costs as if you were using paid APIs directly. This is not actual billing - it's a reference to show how much you're saving by using free models or existing subscriptions through 9Router.
Example:
- Dashboard shows: "$290 total cost"
- Reality: You're using iFlow (FREE unlimited)
- Your actual cost: $0.00
- What $290 means: Amount you saved by using free models instead of paid APIs!
The cost display is a "savings tracker" to help you understand your usage patterns and optimization opportunities.
No. 9Router is free, open-source software that runs on your own computer. It never charges you anything.
You only pay:
- ✅ Subscription providers (Claude Code $20/mo, Codex $20-200/mo) → Pay them directly on their websites
- ✅ Cheap providers (GLM, MiniMax) → Pay them directly, 9Router just routes your requests
- ❌ 9Router itself → Never charges anything, ever
9Router is a local proxy/router. It doesn't have your credit card, can't send invoices, and has no billing system. It's completely free software.
Yes! The current FREE providers (Kiro, OpenCode Free, Vertex) are genuinely free with no hidden charges.
These are free services offered by those respective companies:
- Kiro AI: Free unlimited Claude 4.5 + GLM-5 + MiniMax via AWS Builder ID / Google / GitHub OAuth
- OpenCode Free: No-auth passthrough proxy, models auto-fetched from
opencode.ai/zen/v1/models - Vertex AI: $300 free credits for new Google Cloud accounts (90 days)
9Router just routes your requests to them - there's no "catch" or future billing. They're truly free services, and 9Router makes them easy to use with fallback support.
Discontinued free tiers (no longer recommended):
- ❌ iFlow: Was free unlimited, now changed to paid (2026)
- ❌ Qwen Code: Free OAuth tier discontinued by Alibaba on 2026-04-15
- ❌ Gemini CLI: Still works, but using it with non-CLI tools (Claude, Codex, Cursor...) may result in account bans — only use if you stick to Gemini CLI itself
Free-First Strategy:
-
Start with 100% free combo:
1. gc/gemini-3-flash (180K/month free from Google) 2. if/kimi-k2-thinking (unlimited free from iFlow) 3. qw/qwen3-coder-plus (unlimited free from Qwen)Cost: $0/month
-
Add cheap backup only if you need it:
4. glm/glm-4.7 ($0.6/1M tokens)Additional cost: Only pay for what you actually use
-
Use subscription providers last:
- Only if you already have them
- 9Router helps maximize their value through quota tracking
Result: Most users can operate at $0/month using only free tiers!
9Router's smart fallback prevents surprise charges:
Scenario: You're on a coding sprint and blow through your quotas
Without 9Router:
- ❌ Hit rate limit → Work stops → Frustration
- ❌ Or: Accidentally rack up huge API bills
With 9Router:
- ✅ Subscription hits limit → Auto-fallback to cheap tier
- ✅ Cheap tier gets expensive → Auto-fallback to free tier
- ✅ Never stop coding → Predictable costs
You're in control: Set spending limits per provider in dashboard, and 9Router respects them.
📖 Setup Guide
Claude Code (Pro/Max)
Dashboard → Providers → Connect Claude Code
→ OAuth login → Auto token refresh
→ 5-hour + weekly quota tracking
Models:
cc/claude-opus-4-7
cc/claude-opus-4-6
cc/claude-sonnet-4-6
cc/claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
Pro Tip: Use Opus for complex tasks, Sonnet for speed. 9Router tracks quota per model!
OpenAI Codex (Plus/Pro)
Dashboard → Providers → Connect Codex
→ OAuth login (port 1455)
→ 5-hour + weekly reset
Models:
cx/gpt-5.5
cx/gpt-5.4
cx/gpt-5.3-codex
cx/gpt-5.2-codex
GitHub Copilot
Dashboard → Providers → Connect GitHub
→ OAuth via GitHub
→ Monthly reset (1st of month)
Models:
gh/gpt-5.4
gh/claude-opus-4.7
gh/claude-sonnet-4.6
gh/gemini-3.1-pro-preview
gh/grok-code-fast-1
Cursor IDE
Dashboard → Providers → Connect Cursor
→ OAuth login
→ Monthly subscription
Models:
cu/claude-4.6-opus-max
cu/claude-4.5-sonnet-thinking
cu/gpt-5.3-codex
GLM-5.1 / GLM-4.7 (Daily reset, $0.6/1M)
- Sign up: Zhipu AI
- Get API key from Coding Plan
- Dashboard → Add API Key:
- Provider:
glm - API Key:
your-key
- Provider:
Use: glm/glm-5.1, glm/glm-5, glm/glm-4.7
Pro Tip: Coding Plan offers 3× quota at 1/7 cost! Reset daily 10:00 AM.
MiniMax M2.7 (5h reset, $0.20/1M)
- Sign up: MiniMax
- Get API key
- Dashboard → Add API Key
Use: minimax/MiniMax-M2.7, minimax/MiniMax-M2.5
Pro Tip: Cheapest option for long context (1M tokens)!
Kimi K2.5 ($9/month flat)
- Subscribe: Moonshot AI
- Get API key
- Dashboard → Add API Key
Use: kimi/kimi-k2.5, kimi/kimi-k2.5-thinking
Pro Tip: Fixed $9/month for 10M tokens = $0.90/1M effective cost!
Kiro AI (Claude 4.5 + GLM-5 + MiniMax FREE)
Dashboard → Connect Kiro
→ AWS Builder ID, AWS IAM Identity Center, Google, or GitHub
→ Unlimited usage
Models:
kr/claude-sonnet-4.5
kr/claude-haiku-4.5
kr/glm-5
kr/MiniMax-M2.5
kr/qwen3-coder-next
kr/deepseek-3.2
Pro Tip: Best free option for Claude. No API key, no payment, fully unlimited.
OpenCode Free (No auth, auto-fetch models)
Dashboard → Connect OpenCode Free
→ No login required (passthrough proxy)
→ Models auto-fetched from opencode.ai/zen/v1/models
Pro Tip: Fastest setup. Just connect and start coding.
Vertex AI ($300 free credits for new GCP accounts)
Dashboard → Connect Vertex AI
→ Upload Google Cloud Service Account JSON
→ Enable Vertex AI API in your GCP project
Models:
vertex/gemini-3.1-pro-preview
vertex/gemini-3-flash-preview
vertex/gemini-2.5-flash
Vertex Partner (Anthropic / DeepSeek / GLM / Qwen via Vertex):
vertex-partner/glm-5-maas
vertex-partner/deepseek-v3.2-maas
vertex-partner/qwen3-next-80b-a3b-thinking-maas
Pro Tip: New Google Cloud accounts get $300 credits free for 90 days. Plenty for daily coding.
Example 1: Maximize Subscription → Cheap Backup
Dashboard → Combos → Create New
Name: premium-coding
Models:
1. cc/claude-opus-4-7 (Subscription primary)
2. glm/glm-5.1 (Cheap backup, $0.6/1M)
3. minimax/MiniMax-M2.7 (Cheapest fallback, $0.20/1M)
Use in CLI: premium-coding
Monthly cost example (100M tokens):
80M via Claude (subscription): $0 extra
15M via GLM: $9
5M via MiniMax: $1
Total: $10 + your subscription
Example 2: Free-Only (Zero Cost)
Name: free-combo
Models:
1. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5 (Claude 4.5 free unlimited)
2. kr/glm-5 (GLM-5 free via Kiro)
3. vertex/gemini-3.1-pro-preview ($300 free credits)
Cost: $0 forever (+ 20-40% token savings via RTK)!
Cursor IDE
Settings → Models → Advanced:
OpenAI API Base URL: http://localhost:20128/v1
OpenAI API Key: [from 9router dashboard]
Model: cc/claude-opus-4-7
Or use combo: premium-coding
Claude Code
Edit ~/.claude/config.json:
{
"anthropic_api_base": "http://localhost:20128/v1",
"anthropic_api_key": "your-9router-api-key"
}
Codex CLI
export OPENAI_BASE_URL="http://localhost:20128"
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-9router-api-key"
codex "your prompt"
OpenClaw
Option 1 — Dashboard (recommended):
Dashboard → CLI Tools → OpenClaw → Select Model → Apply
Option 2 — Manual: Edit ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json:
{
"agents": {
"defaults": {
"model": {
"primary": "9router/kr/claude-sonnet-4.5"
}
}
},
"models": {
"providers": {
"9router": {
"baseUrl": "http://127.0.0.1:20128/v1",
"apiKey": "sk_9router",
"api": "openai-completions",
"models": [
{
"id": "kr/claude-sonnet-4.5",
"name": "Claude Sonnet 4.5 (Kiro Free)"
}
]
}
}
}
}
Note: OpenClaw only works with local 9Router. Use
127.0.0.1instead oflocalhostto avoid IPv6 resolution issues.
Cline / Continue / RooCode
Provider: OpenAI Compatible
Base URL: http://localhost:20128/v1
API Key: [from dashboard]
Model: cc/claude-opus-4-7
VPS Deployment
# Clone and install
git clone https://github.com/decolua/9router.git
cd 9router
npm install
npm run build
# Configure
export JWT_SECRET="your-secure-secret-change-this"
export INITIAL_PASSWORD="your-password"
export DATA_DIR="/var/lib/9router"
export PORT="20128"
export HOSTNAME="0.0.0.0"
export NODE_ENV="production"
export NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL="http://localhost:20128"
export NEXT_PUBLIC_CLOUD_URL="https://9router.com"
export API_KEY_SECRET="endpoint-proxy-api-key-secret"
exp
No comments yet
Be the first to share your take.