Updating OpenRouter Free Models

Overview

A systematic, test-driven process for updating OpenRouter free models that ensures only verified working models are added to configuration files. Combines automated fetching, batch testing, and multi-config synchronization.

When to Use

Use when:

• Adding new OpenRouter free models to configurations
• Syncing model lists between Claude Code and OpenClaw
• need to verify model availability before adding
• Managing model fallbacks and availability allowlists

Do NOT use for:

• Single model additions (manual edit is faster)
• Paid model configurations (different testing criteria)
• Other provider types (Anthropic, OpenAI direct)

Core Workflow

graph LR
    A[Fetch models from OpenRouter API] --> B[Batch test each model];
    B --> C{Pass test?};
    C -->|Yes| D[Add to verified list];
    C -->|No| E[Skip + log reason];
    D --> F[Update configurations];
    F --> G[Validate JSON syntax];
    G --> H[Self-test updated config];
    H --> I[Restart OpenClaw service];

Quick Reference

Implementation

Step 1: Fetch Free Models from OpenRouter API

# Use the provided fetcher script which implements comprehensive free model detection
python3 fetch_models.py

Free Model Detection: The script identifies free models by:

• ID containing :free suffix, OR
• All pricing fields (prompt, completion, request) equaling 0 or "0"

This captures models like openrouter/hunter-alpha that have zero pricing but lack the :free tag.

Step 2: Batch Test Availability

# Test each fetched model via API
python3 test_models.py

The script will:

• Read models from /tmp/free_models.txt
• Test each with a short API call
• Save verified models to /tmp/verified_models.txt
• Save failed models to /tmp/failed_models.txt with error reasons

Note: The script supports multiple token sources:

• ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN (Claude Code compatibility)
• OPENROUTER_API_KEY (OpenRouter direct)
• OpenClaw config (~/.openclaw/openclaw.json → models.providers.openrouter.apiKey)

Step 3: Update Claude Code Settings

# Generate JSON array for availableModels
cat > /tmp/availableModels.json << 'EOF'
$(python3 -c "
models = open('/tmp/verified_models.txt').read().strip().split('\n')
print('  \"availableModels\": [')
for i, m in enumerate(models):
    comma = ',' if i < len(models)-1 else ''
    print(f'    \"{m}\"{comma}')
print('  ],')
")

Then manually or programmatically insert into ~/.claude/settings.json.

Step 4: Update OpenClaw Configuration

import json
from pathlib import Path

# Read existing config
with open(Path.home() / '.openclaw' / 'openclaw.json', 'r') as f:
    config = json.load(f)

# Update provider models
verified = open('/tmp/verified_models.txt').read().strip().split('\n')
provider_models = []
fallbacks = []

for i, model_id in enumerate(verified):
    provider_models.append({
        "id": model_id,
        "name": model_id.split('/')[-1],
        "api": "openai-completions"
    })
    if i > 0:  # Skip primary (stepfun) from fallbacks
        fallbacks.append(f"openrouter/{model_id}")

config['models']['providers']['openrouter']['models'] = provider_models
config['agents']['defaults']['model']['fallbacks'] = fallbacks

# Add to agents.defaults.models
for model_id in verified:
    key = f"openrouter/{model_id}"
    if key not in config['agents']['defaults']['models']:
        config['agents']['defaults']['models'][key] = {}

# Save
with open(Path.home() / '.openclaw' / 'openclaw.json', 'w') as f:
    json.dump(config, f, indent=2)

print(f"Updated OpenClaw config with {len(verified)} models")

Step 5: Validate and Self-Test

# Validate JSON syntax
python3 -m json.tool ~/.claude/settings.json > /dev/null && echo "✓ Claude settings valid"
python3 -m json.tool ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json > /dev/null && echo "✓ OpenClaw config valid"

# Self-test: verify models field exists and is array
python3 -c "
import json
with open('~/.claude/settings.json') as f:
    cfg = json.load(f)
    assert 'availableModels' in cfg
    assert isinstance(cfg['availableModels'], list)
    print(f'✅ Claude: {len(cfg[\"availableModels\"])} models available')
"

Common Pitfalls

Real-World Example

Before: Manually copying models from website → errors, outdated models, missing configs

After: Automated fetch + test → only verified models, synchronized configs, repeatable process

Anti-Patterns

❌ Add All Models Without Testing

# BAD: Just grab list and add everything
models = fetch_all()
# Problem: Some models may be rate-limited, deprecated, or region-blocked

❌ One Configuration Only

# BAD: Only update Claude settings, forget OpenClaw
update_claude_settings(verified_models)
# Problem: OpenClaw still has old list → inconsistent behavior

❌ No Self-Test

# BAD: Write file and assume it's correct
with open('settings.json', 'w') as f:
    json.dump(config, f)
# Problem: Syntax error breaks entire application

Testing Checklist

• Fetch produces non-empty model list
• All verified models pass API test in batch
• Claude settings JSON is valid
• OpenClaw JSON is valid
• availableModels exists and is array
• OpenClaw models.providers.openrouter.models updated
• OpenClaw agents.defaults.model.fallbacks includes all except primary
• OpenClaw agents.defaults.models has entries for all
• Actual API call works with at least one model from new list

Maintenance

When to rerun this skill:

• Monthly (OpenRouter adds/removes free models regularly)
• After API error indicates specific model unavailable
• Adding new configuration targets (e.g., new tool that uses OpenRouter)

What to update if API changes:

• Model filter logic (free detection criteria may change - see is_free_model() in fetch_models.py)
• Test request format (API endpoint may version)
• Rate limits (adjust sleep duration)

OpenClaw-Specific Notes

OpenClaw Scripts

This skill includes OpenClaw-specific scripts in the workspace:

Full OpenClaw Workflow

# 1. Fetch free models
python3 fetch_models.py

# 2. Test availability
python3 test_models.py

# 3. Apply to OpenClaw config
node apply_updates_openclaw.js

# 4. Restart OpenClaw service (required for config changes)
./restart_openclaw.sh

# 5. Verify
openclaw --version  # or test with a model

Why restart? OpenClaw loads configuration at startup. Changes to openclaw.json require restart to take effect.

Restart Methods

restart_openclaw.sh tries multiple methods:

1. launchctl (if running as macOS service)
2. pkill + nohup (manual restart)
3. Reports errors if both fail

Logs: /tmp/openclaw-gateway.log

Testing After Update

# Check gateway is running
pgrep -f "openclaw.*gateway"

# Test model fallback (send a test message via your OpenClaw channel)
# If primary fails, it should automatically fall back to next model

See Also

• OpenRouter API docs: https://openrouter.ai/docs
• Claude Code settings schema: ~/.claude/settings.json structure
• OpenClaw configuration: ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json model sections
• OpenClaw gateway docs: openclaw gateway --help