AI Gateway tool profile
9Router
9Router is a local OpenAI-compatible gateway for connecting CLI and IDE coding tools to multiple AI providers. Its official site documents 60+ providers, three-tier fallback, quota tracking, format translation, and RTK/Caveman token-saving features.
Independent research from official sources · Sources · How we review
- Best for
- Developers who want one local endpoint for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Cline, Copilot, OpenCode, and other compatible tools, with provider fallback and a dashboard instead of manual endpoint switching.
- Starting point
- Free and open source under the MIT license; self-hosted through the npm package or source.
- Free plan
- Yes — The gateway software is free and open source (MIT) when self-hosted.
- Key limitation
- Self-hosted: you install, secure, update, and monitor the gateway yourself.
Choose it if
Strongest for
Built for
Avoid it if
- Provider access is not created by 9Router; subscription, OAuth, API-key, regional, quota, and provider-policy limits still apply.
- The project documents proxy and MITM-style integrations for some IDE subscriptions; review each provider and client policy before using those routes.
- Provider counts, free-tier availability, token-savings claims, and release behavior can change; the official site and repository should be rechecked before a purchase or rollout.
Free-plan suitability
The gateway software is free and open source (MIT) when self-hosted. There is no promise of unlimited model usage: upstream provider accounts, quotas, rate limits, and Terms of Service remain in force.
Pricing
Free and open source under the MIT license; self-hosted through the npm package or source. The gateway has no subscription price, but connected providers, accounts, quotas, and their Terms of Service still determine the real cost and availability. Verify live limits before relying on a provider.
Verify the current plan, credits, output limits, and commercial terms before purchasing.
Run it 24/7 on your own server
9Router runs on your own machine, so it stops answering when your laptop sleeps. A small Linux VPS with Docker keeps it online for scripts, agents and teammates, with a fixed monthly cost instead of per-token markup.
- Start with the smallest plan that runs Docker; upgrade only if you add users or local models.
- Keep the gateway bound to localhost or behind a firewall, and store provider keys as environment variables.
- Monthly billing lets you test before committing to a long term.
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What 9Router does
- OpenAI-compatible local endpoint documented at localhost:20128/v1
- Three-tier routing from subscription providers to cheaper and free providers, with automatic fallback
- Provider and quota dashboard with OAuth or API-key connection options
- Format translation across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Gemini-style provider protocols
- RTK and Caveman token-saving modes; the project publishes its own reduction estimates rather than an independent PremiumPeek benchmark
- Integrations documented for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Cline, Copilot, OpenCode, OpenClaw, and other CLI/IDE tools
Is it legit?
Who is behind 9Router, where it is based, and what is publicly known about its funding. Company details change — verify on the official site before committing.
- Company
- 9Router (open-source project)
Evaluation guide
Step-by-step evaluation guides for 9Router — workflow fit, pricing, rights, and a same-input test before paying.
Compare 9Router with alternatives
Side-by-side pages that weigh 9Router against overlapping tools on the same five fields.
Where 9Router appears
Best-of lists and roundups that include 9Router.
Official sources
These links are retained beside the catalog record so changing details can be rechecked.