Direct inference vs model aggregation
OpenRouter gives you access to 100+ models through one API, including closed-source models like GPT-4 and Claude. Fleek is 40-60% cheaper on open-source models we support directly. Use OpenRouter for variety and closed-source access. Use Fleek for cost-optimized open-source inference.
OpenRouter takes a different approach than Fleek. Instead of running their own infrastructure, they aggregate access to models across multiple providers—OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and various open-source hosts. One API, many models.
Fleek runs inference directly on our own Blackwell GPU infrastructure. We control the hardware, optimization, and pricing. Different philosophy, different tradeoffs.
Here's the interesting part: Fleek is being added as a provider on OpenRouter. This means you'll be able to access Fleek's optimized inference through OpenRouter's unified API—getting our price and speed benefits without changing your existing OpenRouter integration.
This comparison explores when aggregation makes sense, when direct inference wins, and how the two platforms can work together.
| Model | Fleek | OpenRouter | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeepSeek R1OpenRouter routes to various providers | ~$0.67/M tokens | ~$0.80/M tokens | 16% |
| Llama 3.1 70B | ~$0.20/M tokens | ~$0.50/M tokens | 60% |
| Mixtral 8x7B | ~$0.08/M tokens | ~$0.27/M tokens | 70% |
| Claude 3.5 SonnetOnly available via OpenRouter | N/A | $3.00/$15.00 per M | N/A |
OpenRouter adds a small margin on top of provider costs. Prices vary by which provider serves your request. Closed-source models (GPT-4, Claude) only available through OpenRouter.
Fleek runs models directly on our Blackwell GPU infrastructure. We control every layer—hardware, optimization, and pricing. This lets us offer consistently low prices ($0.0025/GPU-sec) without depending on third-party providers.
The tradeoff: we only support models we can run efficiently on our hardware. No GPT-4, no Claude—just open-source models we've optimized.
OpenRouter aggregates access to models across providers. When you call their API, they route to the cheapest or fastest available provider. This gives you access to 100+ models—open and closed-source—through one interface.
They add a margin on top of provider costs. Pricing can vary based on which provider handles your request. You're paying for convenience and variety.
Both support OpenAI-compatible APIs. If you're only using open-source models on OpenRouter, switching to Fleek is straightforward. If you need closed-source models, you'll need to keep OpenRouter for those.
Yes. Fleek is being added as a provider on OpenRouter. You'll be able to route requests to Fleek-optimized models through OpenRouter's API, getting our 40-70% cost savings while keeping your existing OpenRouter integration. Best of both worlds.
No, Fleek only runs open-source models on our own infrastructure. For GPT-4, Claude, or other closed-source models, you'd need OpenRouter, direct provider APIs, or an aggregator.
OpenRouter adds a small margin (usually 5-15%) on top of provider costs. For the convenience of one API and automatic routing, many find it worthwhile. For high-volume single-model usage, going direct to Fleek is cheaper.
OpenRouter can route around provider outages, giving effective redundancy. Fleek runs on a single infrastructure but with enterprise-grade reliability. For critical applications, OpenRouter's multi-provider fallback is a plus.
Yes, and soon you won't have to choose. Once Fleek is live on OpenRouter, you can access Fleek's optimized inference directly through OpenRouter's API. Until then, many teams use Fleek for high-volume open-source inference and OpenRouter for closed-source models.
Coming soon. We're building support for any model—not just the open-source ones we showcase. Upload your fine-tuned weights or proprietary model, and we'll apply the same optimization. Same $0.0025/GPU-sec pricing, no custom model premium. Launching in the coming weeks.
OpenRouter and Fleek solve different problems—and increasingly, they work together. OpenRouter is about access and convenience: one API for everything, including closed-source models. Fleek is about cost: 40-70% cheaper on the open-source models we support.
The good news: Fleek is being added as a provider on OpenRouter. Soon you'll be able to access Fleek's optimized inference through OpenRouter's unified API, combining our cost savings with their convenience.
If you need GPT-4 or Claude, OpenRouter is your path. If you're committed to open-source models and want the lowest cost, go direct to Fleek. Or use OpenRouter and let it route to Fleek when that makes sense—best of both worlds.
Note: Fleek is actively expanding model support with new models added regularly. Features where competitors currently have an edge may become available on Fleek over time. Our goal is universal model optimization—supporting any model from any source at the lowest possible cost.
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