Setup guide - Documented by Cline
Use OpenRouter in Cline
Cline has OpenRouter in its API Provider dropdown. Paste an OpenRouter API key and pick a model from the dropdown. A custom base URL is optional.
Last verified 6 steps1 official source
Steps
- Step 1.
Create an OpenRouter API key on the keys page (https://openrouter.ai/keys) and copy it.
- Step 2.
Open Cline Settings: click the settings icon in the Cline panel.
- Step 3.
Choose "OpenRouter" from the "API Provider" dropdown.
- Step 4.
Paste your OpenRouter API key into the "OpenRouter API Key" field.
- Step 5.
Choose your model from the "Model" dropdown.
- Step 6.
(Optional) To use a custom base URL for the OpenRouter API, check "Use custom base URL" and enter the URL. Most users leave this blank.
Caveats
- Cline's docs name no specific model ids. Models come from the dropdown.
- Gemini models through OpenRouter need the "Enable Prompt Caching" box checked by hand to turn on caching. Other models do not need it.
More setup guides
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Related reading
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- OpenRouter in 2026: Review, Setup, and When Model Routing PaysOpenRouter review and setup - one API key for 300+ models with fallbacks and provider routing, what it costs, and when to go direct to a provider instead.
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FAQ
How do I use OpenRouter in Cline?
Cline has OpenRouter in its API Provider dropdown. Paste an OpenRouter API key and pick a model from the dropdown. A custom base URL is optional.
What should I watch out for?
Cline's docs name no specific model ids. Models come from the dropdown.
Is this an official OpenRouter and Cline setup?
Cline documents this setup in its own docs. It was last checked against 1 official page on October 17, 2026.
Sources
Last verified against 1 official page.
- docs.cline.bothttps://docs.cline.bot/provider-config/openrouter
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