# 90+ Free Tiers Supported by OmniRoute: Complete Provider Reference

> Explore OmniRoute's extensive list of 90+ free tier AI providers. Access 56 permanently free options without a credit card and simplify your AI tool selection today.

- Repository: [Diego Rodrigues de Sa e Souza/OmniRoute](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute)
- Tags: api-reference
- Published: 2026-08-28

---

**OmniRoute supports over 90 AI providers offering free tiers, including 56 permanently free options that require no payment method to access.**

The diegosouzapw/OmniRoute repository maintains a comprehensive registry of large language model providers with free-tier access, enabling developers to route requests across multiple AI services without upfront costs. These providers are identified by the `hasFree` flag in the source code and surfaced through both the REST API and dashboard interface.

## How OmniRoute Categorizes Free-Tier Providers

OmniRoute organizes its 90+ free-tier providers into four distinct authentication categories based on how the free quota is accessed.

### OAuth-Based Free Tiers

These providers offer free access through account sign-in without requiring an API key. Users authenticate via OAuth to unlock trial credits or perpetual free quotas. According to the provider registry in `src/shared/constants/providers/`, this category includes **Google Gemini**, **Microsoft Azure OpenAI** (free trial), **OpenAI** (free OAuth tier), **Anthropic** (free trial), and **Meta Llama** via OAuth authentication.

### API-Key Free Tiers

This category requires an API key to access the service, but the key unlocks a zero-cost quota with specific rate limits. The registry defines these with `hasFree: true` and accompanying `freeNote` strings describing the limits. Notable providers include **Groq** (`llama-3.1-8b-instant`, `llama-3.3-70b-versatile`) with 2 req/s and 20 RPM, **Naga AI** with 100 req/hr limits, **DeepSeek-V3** at 5 RPM and 5000 tokens/day, **Claude 3.7**, **Kimi-K2**, and **Qwen 3** offering trial credits on sign-up.

### No-Authentication Free Tiers

These providers offer anonymous access with no credentials required. The implementation in [`src/sse/services/auth.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/sse/services/auth.ts) handles these as IP-bucketed endpoints to prevent abuse. Examples include **Opencode Zen** (`opencode-zen`), the **DuckDuckGo LLM gateway**, **Kili LLM**, **KoboldAI** offline instances, **Freebuff** (`freebuff`) offering $0/token pricing at 20 RPM, and OpenAI-compatible public endpoints like `g4f.space`.

### Special-Case Free Tiers

Providers requiring minimal sign-up steps or offering limited-time GPU credits fall into this category. These include **OpenAI "no-key" mode** (free tier via Discord sign-up), **OpenAI "keyless"** (free quota with limited RPM), **Nvidia GPU free credits** (trial period), and **Alibaba Free quota** providing approximately 1M input and 3M output tokens per day.

## Provider Registry Implementation

In `src/shared/constants/providers/**/*.ts`, each provider entry includes a `hasFree?: boolean` property and an optional `freeNote` field describing quota constraints. The registry distinguishes between permanently free tiers (56 providers) and trial-based offers.

The ranking system in [`src/lib/freeProviderRankings.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/lib/freeProviderRankings.ts) generates priority lists for the UI, while [`scripts/docs/gen-provider-reference.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/scripts/docs/gen-provider-reference.ts) automatically generates markdown documentation from the registry. When a request targets a free-tier model, [`src/sse/services/auth.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/sse/services/auth.ts) validates the per-provider IP-bucketed budget before routing.

## Representative Free-Tier Providers

The following providers demonstrate the range of free-tier implementations found in the OmniRoute source code:

| Provider ID | Display Name | Free-Tier Configuration |
|-------------|--------------|-------------------------|
| `groq/llama-3.1-8b-instant` | Groq Llama 3.1 Instant | 2 req/s, 20 RPM, 100 req/hr |
| `groq/llama-3.3-70b-versatile` | Groq Llama 3.3 Versatile | 2 req/s, 20 RPM, 100 req/hr |
| `opencode-zen` | Opencode Zen | Anonymous no-auth access |
| `naga` | Naga AI | 2 req/s, 20 RPM, 100 req/hr |
| `deepseek-v3` | DeepSeek V3 | 5 RPM, 5000 tokens/day |
| `gemini` | Google Gemini | Free trial (no card required) |
| `claude-3.7` | Claude 3.7 | Free tier via API key |
| `qwen3` | Qwen 3 | Free trial credits on sign-up |
| `kimi-k2` | Kimi K2 | 2 req/s, 20 RPM |
| `freebuff` | Freebuff AI | $0/token, 20 RPM / 200 RPD |
| `openai-noauth` | OpenAI No-Auth Gateway | Anonymous access via DuckDuckGo |
| `alibaba-free` | Alibaba Free Quota | ~1M input / 3M output tokens daily |

## Implementing Free-Tier Requests

To route requests through free-tier providers, specify the provider-prefixed model ID in your API call. OmniRoute automatically handles authentication and quota management without requiring manual API key configuration for no-auth providers.

```typescript
// Example: request a free-tier model via the unified endpoint
import { fetchChatCompletion } from "omniroute";

await fetchChatCompletion({
  model: "groq/llama-3.1-8b-instant", // free-tier model
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello world!" }],
  // No API key required; OmniRoute routes to the free tier automatically
});

```

If the free quota is exhausted, OmniRoute triggers fallback logic defined in [`src/sse/services/auth.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/sse/services/auth.ts). The system catches the error `"free tier of the model has been exhausted"` (as tested in [`account-fallback-service.test.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/account-fallback-service.test.ts)) and automatically reroutes to the next available provider, including paid tiers if configured, without returning an error to the client.

## Key Source Files and Architecture

| File Path | Purpose |
|-----------|---------|
| `src/shared/constants/providers/**/*.ts` | Provider definitions with `hasFree` flags and `freeNote` descriptions |
| [`src/lib/freeProviderRankings.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/lib/freeProviderRankings.ts) | Generates free-tier priority rankings for the UI |
| [`src/sse/services/auth.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/sse/services/auth.ts) | Validates per-provider free-tier budgets and IP-based rate limiting |
| `src/app/(dashboard)/dashboard/providers/page.tsx` | Dashboard UI filter for "Free tier" providers |
| [`scripts/docs/gen-provider-reference.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/scripts/docs/gen-provider-reference.ts) | Automation script for generating provider documentation |

## Summary

- OmniRoute maintains **90+ free-tier providers** in its registry, with **56 offering permanently free** access.
- Free tiers are identified by the **`hasFree: true`** flag in `src/shared/constants/providers/` and documented via **`freeNote`** strings explaining quota limits.
- Providers support four authentication modes: **OAuth**, **API-key**, **no-authentication**, and **special-case** sign-up requirements.
- The system automatically handles **quota exhaustion** by falling back to alternative providers without client-side errors.
- Developers access free tiers by specifying provider-prefixed model IDs like `groq/llama-3.1-8b-instant` in API requests.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does OmniRoute define a "free tier" provider?

OmniRoute defines a free-tier provider as any service entry in `src/shared/constants/providers/**/*.ts` containing `hasFree: true`. These entries optionally include a `freeNote` field describing specific constraints such as requests per minute, daily token limits, or authentication requirements. The definition covers both permanently free services and time-limited trial accounts.

### What happens when a free-tier quota is exhausted?

When a request hits a free-tier limit, OmniRoute returns the error `"free tier of the model has been exhausted"` internally. According to [`src/sse/services/auth.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/sse/services/auth.ts) and fallback logic in [`account-fallback-service.test.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/account-fallback-service.test.ts), the router automatically redirects the request to the next available provider in the priority chain. If configured, this includes failing over to paid-tier providers without interrupting the client connection or requiring manual intervention.

### Are API keys required for all free-tier providers?

No. OmniRoute supports three distinct authentication patterns for free tiers. **No-auth** providers like `opencode-zen` and DuckDuckGo gateways require zero credentials. **OAuth-based** providers like Google Gemini require account sign-in but no API key. Only **API-key free tiers** like Groq or DeepSeek require key generation, though the associated quota remains free of charge.

### How can I filter for free-tier providers in the OmniRoute dashboard?

The dashboard interface at `src/app/(dashboard)/dashboard/providers/page.tsx` includes a "Free tier" checkbox that filters the provider catalog on `hasFree === true`. This UI component leverages the rankings generated by [`src/lib/freeProviderRankings.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/lib/freeProviderRankings.ts) to display only providers with active free quotas, including real-time availability indicators based on current IP-bucketed usage data from [`src/sse/services/auth.ts`](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute/blob/main/src/sse/services/auth.ts).