Guides

Migrate to MiniRouter

Change the base URL, the key and the model ID. Your SDK stays.

MiniRouter speaks the OpenAI Chat Completions and Responses APIs and the Anthropic Messages API. Existing SDKs work unchanged: point them at MiniRouter, pay from one balance and pick any model in the catalog.

1. Get a key

Create a key, then export it where your app runs.

Terminal

export MINIROUTER_KEY=mr-live-YOUR-KEY-HERE

PowerShell

setx MINIROUTER_KEY mr-live-YOUR-KEY-HERE

2. Change the base URL

Pass the MiniRouter URL and key to your client.

Python

from openai import OpenAI
import os

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.minirouter.sh/v1",
    api_key=os.environ["MINIROUTER_KEY"],
)

completion = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="openai/gpt-5.6-luna",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
)
print(completion.choices[0].message.content)

TypeScript

import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.minirouter.sh/v1",
  apiKey: process.env.MINIROUTER_KEY,
});

const completion = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: "openai/gpt-5.6-luna",
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }],
});
console.log(completion.choices[0].message.content);

Terminal

curl https://api.minirouter.sh/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MINIROUTER_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "model": "openai/gpt-5.6-luna",
  "messages": [
    {
      "role": "user",
      "content": "Hello"
    }
  ]
}'

3. Use full model IDs

Prefix the author: gpt-5.6-luna becomes openai/gpt-5.6-luna. See Model IDs.

4. Verify

Send one request, then open Activity. It lists the model, tokens and exact cost.

Anthropic SDK

Messages accepts the key as x-api-key or a bearer token. Only the base URL changes.

Python

from anthropic import Anthropic
import os

client = Anthropic(
    base_url="https://api.minirouter.sh",
    api_key=os.environ["MINIROUTER_KEY"],
)

message = client.messages.create(
    model="anthropic/claude-opus-5",
    max_tokens=1024,
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}],
)
print(message.content[0].text)

TypeScript

import Anthropic from "@anthropic-ai/sdk";

const client = new Anthropic({
  baseURL: "https://api.minirouter.sh",
  apiKey: process.env.MINIROUTER_KEY,
});

const message = await client.messages.create({
  model: "anthropic/claude-opus-5",
  max_tokens: 1024,
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello" }],
});
console.log(message.content);

Terminal

curl https://api.minirouter.sh/v1/messages \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MINIROUTER_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \
  -d '{
  "model": "anthropic/claude-opus-5",
  "max_tokens": 1024,
  "messages": [
    {
      "role": "user",
      "content": "Hello"
    }
  ]
}'

Vercel AI SDK

TypeScript

import { createOpenAICompatible } from "@ai-sdk/openai-compatible";
import { generateText } from "ai";

const minirouter = createOpenAICompatible({
  name: "minirouter",
  baseURL: "https://api.minirouter.sh/v1",
  apiKey: process.env.MINIROUTER_KEY,
  includeUsage: true,
});

const { text } = await generateText({
  model: minirouter("openai/gpt-5.6-luna"),
  prompt: "Hello",
});
console.log(text);

Any other OpenAI-compatible client takes the same base URL and key.

Environment variables

OpenAI and Anthropic SDKs read these when code passes no URL or key.

OPENAI_BASE_URL: https://api.minirouter.sh/v1
OPENAI_API_KEY: Your MiniRouter key.
ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: https://api.minirouter.sh
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: Your MiniRouter key.

Terminal

export OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://api.minirouter.sh/v1
export OPENAI_API_KEY=mr-live-YOUR-KEY-HERE

PowerShell

setx OPENAI_BASE_URL https://api.minirouter.sh/v1
setx OPENAI_API_KEY mr-live-YOUR-KEY-HERE

Model IDs

gpt-5.6-luna: openai/gpt-5.6-luna
claude-opus-5: anthropic/claude-opus-5
gemini-3.8-flash: google/gemini-3.8-flash

Copy exact IDs from the catalog or list them. Let MiniRouter choose with minirouter/auto.

What stays, what changes

Cost: usage.cost and x-minirouter-cost-usd. See billing.
Balance: x-minirouter-balance-usd on every response.
Served by: x-minirouter-model and x-minirouter-provider.
Errors: error.code and x-minirouter-error-code name the cause. See errors.
Routing: Optional models fallbacks and provider settings.
Paths: Paths under /api/v1 also work.

Roll out

1. One key per environment

Create them in Keys, each with limits.

2. Add credits

Top up in billing.

3. Switch staging

Swap base URL, key and model IDs.
Log usage.cost, or watch Usage.
Handle 402 and 429 by error.code.

4. Switch production

Keep the old config until traffic settles.

FAQ

Do I need a new SDK?

No. OpenAI, Anthropic and OpenAI-compatible clients work with a new base URL and key.

Does the Responses API work?

Yes. Chat Completions and Responses both work through the OpenAI SDK.

How do I see what a request cost?

Read usage.cost or x-minirouter-cost-usd, or open Activity.

What if a model fails?

List up to three backups in models, or fallbacks on Messages. If one cannot start a response, the next answers.

Can I share one model setting across apps?

Call a preset as @preset/your-slug and change its model from the dashboard.