OpenRouter Setup
Overview
You can bring your own OpenRouter API key to use with AI Coach and Bot Chat. This gives you full control over which model you use and how much you spend. Your key is encrypted and stored securely in the database.
Why Is Demo AI Rate-Limited?
Thank you to everyone who has tried the Demo AI feature. Your usage and feedback helped show what works, but the current cost level is no longer sustainable as a free shared feature. For example, yesterday alone used:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total tokens | 63,597,666 |
| Input tokens | 61,429,429 |
| Output tokens | 2,168,237 |
| Estimated cost | ~$19.80 for one day |
This is why Demo AI is rate-limited for non-supporter users — to ensure supporter users are not rate-limited by the shared pool and can use unlimited chat messages. Bringing your own OpenRouter key lets you bypass these limits entirely.
Creating an OpenRouter Account
- Go to openrouter.ai
- Click Sign Up in the top-right corner
- You can sign up with Google, GitHub, or email
- Once logged in, you will be taken to your dashboard
Creating an API Key
- In the OpenRouter dashboard, click Keys in the left sidebar
- Click Create Key
- Give your key a name (for example, "Chastify")
- Copy the key immediately — you will not be able to see it again
- Paste this key into the AI Settings modal in Chastify
Never share your API key publicly or commit it to code repositories. Treat it like a password. If you believe your key has been leaked, delete it in the OpenRouter dashboard and create a new one.
Choosing a Model
OpenRouter offers hundreds of models. When choosing one, consider the trade-off between cost, quality, and speed.
Free Models (:free)
Models ending in :free cost nothing to use but come with limitations:
- Rate limited — you may encounter slowdowns or temporary blocks during busy periods
- Lower priority — free requests are processed after paid ones
Examples of free models:
openai/gpt-oss-120b:free- often rate limited. 'openai/gpt-oss-120b' is the paid model without ratelimit.
Free models are great for testing and casual use, but if you rely on AI Coach for active sessions, consider a paid model for consistent availability and faster responses.
Demo AI vs. Bring Your Own Key
The Demo AI mode in Bot Chat uses MiniMax-M2.7 (minimax/minimax-m2.7). This is a server-hosted model with the following pricing:
| Price Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Input | $0.26 per 1M tokens |
| Output | $1.20 per 1M tokens |
During promotions, Demo AI may be free or unlimited for certain user tiers. However, this can change at any time. Bringing your own OpenRouter key ensures you always have access regardless of server-side promotions.
Very cheap or free models often produce shorter, less nuanced, or less reliable responses. They may struggle with complex commands, forget context more quickly, or generate incorrect action formats. If your AI Coach feels "dumb," the model is likely the reason.
Setting Up in Chastify
- Open the Bot Chat or AI Coach settings
- Switch to AI mode (instead of Demo AI)
- Paste your OpenRouter API key
- Select a model from the dropdown, or type one in manually
- Save the settings
Your key is encrypted before being stored. You can update or remove it at any time.
Start with a free model to verify everything works. Once you are happy with the setup, switch to a paid model for better reliability during active sessions.