9Router
A local router that lets AI coding tools use multiple model providers, with fallback when limits hit.
- Stars
- 31.8k
- Forks
- 6.2k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- JavaScript
- Last update
- 9 days ago
- Type
- Dev tool
What it is
9Router runs on your computer as a local server at localhost:20128. You point tools such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or Cline at it instead of a provider, and it forwards requests to one of 40+ AI providers. It can switch to a cheaper or free model when a primary subscription runs out, and its README says it compresses tool output to save tokens.
- Point Claude Code or Cursor at http://localhost:20128/v1 and use a free model through the router
- Set up automatic fallback from a subscription provider to cheaper or free providers
- Track quota across accounts and providers from the dashboard
- Rotate requests between multiple accounts for one provider
Great for
- Developers who use AI coding tools and want to reduce spending
- People with several AI subscriptions who want to use up their quota
- Users who want one local endpoint for multiple AI providers
- Tinkerers willing to configure providers and model names by hand
Not ideal for
- Users who need guaranteed uptime or enterprise support, since the README describes no such commitments
- People who do not want to manage API keys or provider accounts
- Anyone expecting every listed model to be truly unlimited, since free tiers and credits have limits the README itself mentions
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Node.js · npm
Install globally with npm
npm install -g 9routerStart the router and dashboard
9router - 2
Run it
- Run 9router and open http://localhost:20128 in your browser
- In the dashboard, go to Providers and connect a free provider such as OpenCode Free
- Copy the API key shown in the dashboard
- In your CLI tool, set the endpoint to http://localhost:20128/v1 and paste the key
- Choose a model name such as kr/claude-sonnet-4.5 and start coding
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Connect several providers so auto-fallback has somewhere to go when a quota runs out
- Add multiple accounts per provider to use round-robin distribution
- Use the dashboard quota tracking to spend subscription credits before they reset
- Enable the RTK token saver, which the README says compresses tool_result content
Downloads
Strengths
- Single local endpoint works with many AI coding tools
- Automatic fallback between tiers of providers
- MIT licensed and open source with a large public following
Trade-offs
- Free tiers and credits are limited and can change, so 'unlimited' is marketing wording
- Source-based setup and production build require extra steps and system tuning
- Relies on third-party providers whose terms and availability are outside the project's control
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9router (this) | 31.8k | Dev tool | intermediate | 9 days ago | Developers who use AI coding tools and want to reduce spending |
| ollama | 186k | App | beginner | 4 days ago | Developers who want a local model API for their own apps |
| OmniRoute | 83.8k | App | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who use several AI coding tools and want one place to configure providers |
| hermes-agent | 260k | AI model / agent | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who want a personal agent they can host on their own server or machine |
| agents | 42.1k | Dev tool | beginner | 4 days ago | Developers who already use one of the listed AI coding tools and want ready-made specialist agents |
| humanizer | 63.8k | AI model / agent | beginner | 9 days ago | Writers who draft with an AI and want the final text to sound more natural |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.