OpenRouter is the most well-known LLM routing platform today. Moyi API is a newer entrant, purpose-built as an agent-optimized LLM gateway. How do they compare, and which one fits your needs?
This article breaks down pricing, caching, routing strategies, latency, and China-market friendliness to help you decide.
One-Line Positioning
- OpenRouter: Veteran general-purpose LLM router with 200+ models and broad coverage
- Moyi API: Next-generation LLM gateway, deeply optimized for Claude Code / Codex agent workflows
Pricing Comparison
Base Pricing Model
| Dimension | OpenRouter | Moyi API |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Official price + fixed markup | Official price + tiered discounts |
| First-purchase discount | None | First $25 at 50% off |
| Cache pricing | No cache feature | Cache reads at ~10% of full price |
| Hidden fees | Opaque markup on some models | Fully transparent |
| China payment | International cards | Cards + Alipay |
Real-World Cost Comparison
Claude Sonnet 4.7, 500K monthly requests:
| Cost Item | OpenRouter | Moyi API |
|---|---|---|
| Base calls | ~$1,350 + markup | ~$1,350 × tiered discount |
| Cache savings | None (no cache) | 99.3% hit rate, 90% savings |
| First-purchase discount | None | First $25 at 50% off |
| Monthly effective cost | $1,620-1,890 | $142-285 |
Based on public data and estimated usage scenarios. Actual costs vary.
Cache Hit Rate Comparison
This is arguably the most important differentiator:
| Dimension | OpenRouter | Moyi API |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt Caching support | Partial model support | Full deep support |
| Agent-workflow cache hit rate | No optimization, 30-50% | 99.3% (optimized) |
| Cache pricing | No differentiated pricing | Cache reads at 10% of full price |
| Cache's impact on cost | Minimal | Dramatic (70-90% cost reduction) |
For agent workflows, Moyi API's cache advantage is overwhelming.
Routing Strategy Comparison
| Dimension | OpenRouter | Moyi API |
|---|---|---|
| Auto failover | Yes (limited config) | Yes (configurable rules) |
| Load balancing | Round-robin | Multi-strategy: round-robin, priority, latency-first |
| Request shaping | None | Built-in, Anthropic-compliant |
| Rate limit management | Account-wide limits | Per-key granular control |
| Custom routing rules | Limited | Highly configurable |
Latency and Availability
| Dimension | OpenRouter | Moyi API |
|---|---|---|
| TTFT (Time to First Token) | 800-1500ms | <500ms |
| Global node distribution | Multi-region | Asia-Pacific optimized + global |
| SLA | No public SLA | 99.98% SLA |
| China region latency | High (no optimization) | Low (APAC node priority) |
China-Market Friendliness
This is a key differentiator for Moyi API vs OpenRouter:
| Dimension | OpenRouter | Moyi API |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay | Not supported | Supported |
| Chinese documentation | English only | Chinese + English |
| Chinese support | English only | Chinese + English support |
| China access speed | Slow | Fast (APAC optimized) |
| Compliance | Not China-optimized | Better China access experience |
When to Choose Which
Choose OpenRouter if
- You need the full 200+ model catalog
- You already have deep OR integration with high migration cost
- You serve overseas users primarily
- You don't care much about cache/cost optimization
Choose Moyi API if
- You mainly use Claude Code / Codex agent tools
- You're cost-sensitive and want to slash bills via caching
- You need stable high availability (99.98% SLA)
- You're a Chinese developer or serve Chinese users
- You want request shaping to reduce ban risk
Use Both if
- Moyi API as primary backend for Claude Code / Codex
- OpenRouter as a supplementary source for niche models
- Moyi API for cache + stability on main workflows, OR as failover
Migration Path: OpenRouter to Moyi API
- Sign up at Moyi API
- Generate an API Key in the console
- Change the Base URL in your agent tools from OpenRouter to Moyi API
- Verify with a test request
- Keep OpenRouter as backup — don't delete it yet
FAQ
Is Moyi API API-compatible with OpenRouter?
Both use the OpenAI-compatible format, so you can drop Moyi API in as a direct replacement without changing your code.
Does Moyi API's smaller model selection matter?
Moyi API focuses on the most-used models (Claude, GPT, Gemini), covering 90%+ of agent use cases. If "good enough" beats "everything under the sun," Moyi API delivers.
Can I use OpenRouter and Moyi API simultaneously?
Absolutely. Use different platforms for different tools, or configure both as primary and failover within the same tool.