9router/README.md

<div align="center">
  <img src="./images/9router.png?1" alt="9Router Dashboard" width="800"/>
  
  # 9Router - FREE AI Router & Token Saver
  
  **Never stop coding. Save 20-40% tokens with RTK + auto-fallback to FREE & cheap AI models.**
  
  **Connect All AI Code Tools (Claude Code, Cursor, Antigravity, Copilot, Codex, Gemini, OpenCode, Cline, OpenClaw...) to 40+ AI Providers & 100+ Models.**
  
  [![npm](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/9router.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/9router)
  [![Downloads](https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/9router.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/9router)
  [![License](https://img.shields.io/npm/l/9router.svg)](https://github.com/decolua/9router/blob/main/LICENSE)
  
  [🚀 Quick Start](#-quick-start) • [💡 Features](#-key-features) • [📖 Setup](#-setup-guide) • [🌐 Website](https://9router.com)

  [🇻🇳 Tiếng Việt](./i18n/README.vi.md) • [🇨🇳 中文](./i18n/README.zh-CN.md) • [🇯🇵 日本語](./i18n/README.ja-JP.md)
</div>

---

## 🤔 Why 9Router?

**Stop wasting money, tokens and hitting limits:**

- ❌ Subscription quota expires unused every month
- ❌ Rate limits stop you mid-coding
- ❌ Tool outputs (git diff, grep, ls...) burn tokens fast
- ❌ Expensive APIs ($20-50/month per provider)
- ❌ Manual switching between providers

**9Router solves this:**

- ✅ **RTK Token Saver** - Auto-compress tool_result content, save 20-40% tokens per request
- ✅ **Maximize subscriptions** - Track quota, use every bit before reset
- ✅ **Auto fallback** - Subscription → Cheap → Free, zero downtime
- ✅ **Multi-account** - Round-robin between accounts per provider
- ✅ **Universal** - Works with Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Cline, any CLI tool

---

## 🔄 How It Works

```
┌─────────────┐
│  Your CLI   │  (Claude Code, Codex, OpenClaw, Cursor, Cline...)
│   Tool      │
└──────┬──────┘
       │ http://localhost:20128/v1
       ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           9Router (Smart Router)            │
│  • RTK Token Saver (cut tool_result tokens) │
│  • Format translation (OpenAI ↔ Claude)     │
│  • Quota tracking                           │
│  • Auto token refresh                       │
└──────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
       │
       ├─→ [Tier 1: SUBSCRIPTION] Claude Code, Codex, GitHub Copilot
       │   ↓ quota exhausted
       ├─→ [Tier 2: CHEAP] GLM ($0.6/1M), MiniMax ($0.2/1M)
       │   ↓ budget limit
       └─→ [Tier 3: FREE] Kiro, OpenCode Free, Vertex ($300 credits)

Result: Never stop coding, minimal cost + 20-40% token savings via RTK
```

---

## ⚡ Quick Start

**1. Install globally:**

```bash
npm install -g 9router
9router
```

🎉 Dashboard opens at `http://localhost:20128`

**2. Connect a FREE provider (no signup needed):**

Dashboard → Providers → Connect **Kiro AI** (free Claude unlimited) or **OpenCode Free** (no auth) → Done!

**3. Use in your CLI tool:**

```
Claude Code/Codex/OpenClaw/Cursor/Cline Settings:
  Endpoint: http://localhost:20128/v1
  API Key: [copy from dashboard]
  Model: kr/claude-sonnet-4.5
```

**That's it!** Start coding with FREE AI models.

**Alternative: run from source (this repository):**

This repository package is private (`9router-app`), so source/Docker execution is the expected local development path.

```bash
cp .env.example .env
npm install
PORT=20128 NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:20128 npm run dev
```

Production mode:

```bash
npm run build
PORT=20128 HOSTNAME=0.0.0.0 NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:20128 npm run start
```

Default URLs:
- Dashboard: `http://localhost:20128/dashboard`
- OpenAI-compatible API: `http://localhost:20128/v1`

---

## 🎥 Video Tutorial

<div align="center">
  
### 📺 Complete Setup Guide - 9Router + Claude Code FREE
  
[![9Router + Claude Code Setup](https://img.youtube.com/vi/raEyZPg5xE0/maxresdefault.jpg)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raEyZPg5xE0)

**🎬 Watch the complete step-by-step tutorial:**
- ✅ 9Router installation & setup
- ✅ FREE Claude Sonnet 4.5 configuration
- ✅ Claude Code integration
- ✅ Live coding demonstration

**⏱️ Duration:** 20 minutes | **👥 By:** Developer Community

[▶️ Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3qYCyjrFYg)

</div>

---

## 🛠️ Supported CLI Tools

9Router works seamlessly with all major AI coding tools:

<div align="center">
  <table>
    <tr>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/claude.png" width="60" alt="Claude Code"/><br/>
        <b>Claude-Code</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/openclaw.png" width="60" alt="OpenClaw"/><br/>
        <b>OpenClaw</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/codex.png" width="60" alt="Codex"/><br/>
        <b>Codex</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/opencode.png" width="60" alt="OpenCode"/><br/>
        <b>OpenCode</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/cursor.png" width="60" alt="Cursor"/><br/>
        <b>Cursor</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/antigravity.png" width="60" alt="Antigravity"/><br/>
        <b>Antigravity</b>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/cline.png" width="60" alt="Cline"/><br/>
        <b>Cline</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/continue.png" width="60" alt="Continue"/><br/>
        <b>Continue</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/droid.png" width="60" alt="Droid"/><br/>
        <b>Droid</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/roo.png" width="60" alt="Roo"/><br/>
        <b>Roo</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/copilot.png" width="60" alt="Copilot"/><br/>
        <b>Copilot</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/kilocode.png" width="60" alt="Kilo Code"/><br/>
        <b>Kilo Code</b>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </table>
</div>

---

## 🌐 Supported Providers

### 🔐 OAuth Providers

<div align="center">
  <table>
    <tr>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/claude.png" width="60" alt="Claude Code"/><br/>
        <b>Claude-Code</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/antigravity.png" width="60" alt="Antigravity"/><br/>
        <b>Antigravity</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/codex.png" width="60" alt="Codex"/><br/>
        <b>Codex</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/github.png" width="60" alt="GitHub"/><br/>
        <b>GitHub</b>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="120">
        <img src="./public/providers/cursor.png" width="60" alt="Cursor"/><br/>
        <b>Cursor</b>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </table>
</div>

### 🆓 Free Providers

<div align="center">
  <table>
    <tr>
      <td align="center" width="150">
        <img src="./public/providers/kiro.png" width="70" alt="Kiro"/><br/>
        <b>Kiro AI</b><br/>
        <sub>Claude 4.5 + GLM-5 + MiniMax<br/>Unlimited FREE</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="150">
        <img src="./public/providers/opencode.png" width="70" alt="OpenCode Free"/><br/>
        <b>OpenCode Free</b><br/>
        <sub>No auth • Auto-fetch models<br/>Unlimited FREE</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="150">
        <img src="./public/providers/gemini.png" width="70" alt="Vertex AI"/><br/>
        <b>Vertex AI</b><br/>
        <sub>Gemini 3 Pro + GLM-5 + DeepSeek<br/>$300 credits free</sub>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </table>
</div>

> **Note:** iFlow, Qwen and Gemini CLI free tiers were discontinued in 2026. Use Kiro / OpenCode Free / Vertex instead.

### 🔑 API Key Providers (40+)

<div align="center">
  <table>
    <tr>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/openrouter.png" width="50" alt="OpenRouter"/><br/>
        <sub>OpenRouter</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/glm.png" width="50" alt="GLM"/><br/>
        <sub>GLM</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/kimi.png" width="50" alt="Kimi"/><br/>
        <sub>Kimi</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/minimax.png" width="50" alt="MiniMax"/><br/>
        <sub>MiniMax</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/openai.png" width="50" alt="OpenAI"/><br/>
        <sub>OpenAI</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/anthropic.png" width="50" alt="Anthropic"/><br/>
        <sub>Anthropic</sub>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/gemini.png" width="50" alt="Gemini"/><br/>
        <sub>Gemini</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/deepseek.png" width="50" alt="DeepSeek"/><br/>
        <sub>DeepSeek</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/groq.png" width="50" alt="Groq"/><br/>
        <sub>Groq</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/xai.png" width="50" alt="xAI"/><br/>
        <sub>xAI</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/mistral.png" width="50" alt="Mistral"/><br/>
        <sub>Mistral</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/perplexity.png" width="50" alt="Perplexity"/><br/>
        <sub>Perplexity</sub>
      </td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/together.png" width="50" alt="Together"/><br/>
        <sub>Together AI</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/fireworks.png" width="50" alt="Fireworks"/><br/>
        <sub>Fireworks</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/cerebras.png" width="50" alt="Cerebras"/><br/>
        <sub>Cerebras</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/cohere.png" width="50" alt="Cohere"/><br/>
        <sub>Cohere</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/nvidia.png" width="50" alt="NVIDIA"/><br/>
        <sub>NVIDIA</sub>
      </td>
      <td align="center" width="100">
        <img src="./public/providers/siliconflow.png" width="50" alt="SiliconFlow"/><br/>
        <sub>SiliconFlow</sub>
      </td>
    </tr>
  </table>
  <p><i>...and 20+ more providers including Nebius, Chutes, Hyperbolic, and custom OpenAI/Anthropic compatible endpoints</i></p>
</div>

---

## 💡 Key Features

| Feature | What It Does | Why It Matters |
|---------|--------------|----------------|
| 🚀 **RTK Token Saver** | Auto-compress tool_result content (git-diff, grep, find, ls, tree...) before sending to LLM | Save 20-40% tokens per request, keep more context window |
| 🎯 **Smart 3-Tier Fallback** | Auto-route: Subscription → Cheap → Free | Never stop coding, zero downtime |
| 📊 **Real-Time Quota Tracking** | Live token count + reset countdown | Maximize subscription value |
| 🔄 **Format Translation** | OpenAI ↔ Claude ↔ Gemini ↔ Cursor ↔ Kiro ↔ Vertex | Works with any CLI tool |
| 👥 **Multi-Account Support** | Multiple accounts per provider | Load balancing + redundancy |
| 🔄 **Auto Token Refresh** | OAuth tokens refresh automatically | No manual re-login needed |
| 🎨 **Custom Combos** | Create unlimited model combinations | Tailor fallback to your needs |
| 📝 **Request Logging** | Debug mode with full request/response logs | Troubleshoot issues easily |
| 💾 **Cloud Sync** | Sync config across devices | Same setup everywhere |
| 📊 **Usage Analytics** | Track tokens, cost, trends over time | Optimize spending |
| 🌐 **Deploy Anywhere** | Localhost, VPS, Docker, Cloudflare Workers | Flexible deployment options |

<details>
<summary><b>📖 Feature Details</b></summary>

### 🚀 RTK Token Saver

Tool outputs (`git diff`, `grep`, `find`, `ls`, `tree`, log dumps...) often eat 30-50% of your prompt budget. RTK detects them and applies smart, lossless compression **before** the request hits the LLM:

- **Filters:** `git-diff`, `git-status`, `grep`, `find`, `ls`, `tree`, `dedup-log`, `smart-truncate`, `read-numbered`, `search-list`
- **Auto-detect:** No config needed — RTK peeks the first 1KB of each `tool_result` and picks the right filter.
- **Safe by design:** If a filter fails, throws, or makes output bigger, RTK silently keeps the original text. Errors never break your request.
- **Universal:** Works across all formats (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Cursor, Kiro, OpenAI Responses) because it runs **before** any format translation.
- **Default ON:** Toggle anytime in Dashboard → Endpoint settings.

```
Without RTK: 47K tokens sent to LLM
With RTK:    28K tokens sent to LLM   (40% saved · same context · same answer)
```

### 🎯 Smart 3-Tier Fallback

Create combos with automatic fallback:

```
Combo: "my-coding-stack"
  1. cc/claude-opus-4-6        (your subscription)
  2. glm/glm-4.7               (cheap backup, $0.6/1M)
  3. if/kimi-k2-thinking       (free fallback)

→ Auto switches when quota runs out or errors occur
```

### 📊 Real-Time Quota Tracking

- Token consumption per provider
- Reset countdown (5-hour, daily, weekly)
- Cost estimation for paid tiers
- Monthly spending reports

### 🔄 Format Translation

Seamless translation between formats:
- **OpenAI** ↔ **Claude** ↔ **Gemini** ↔ **Cursor** ↔ **Kiro** ↔ **Vertex** ↔ **Antigravity** ↔ **Ollama** ↔ **OpenAI Responses**
- Your CLI tool sends OpenAI format → 9Router translates → Provider receives native format
- Works with any tool that supports custom OpenAI endpoints

### 👥 Multi-Account Support

- Add multiple accounts per provider
- Auto round-robin or priority-based routing
- Fallback to next account when one hits quota

### 🔄 Auto Token Refresh

- OAuth tokens automatically refresh before expiration
- No manual re-authentication needed
- Seamless experience across all providers

### 🎨 Custom Combos

- Create unlimited model combinations
- Mix subscription, cheap, and free tiers
- Name your combos for easy access
- Share combos across devices with Cloud Sync

### 📝 Request Logging

- Enable debug mode for full request/response logs
- Track API calls, headers, and payloads
- Troubleshoot integration issues
- Export logs for analysis

### 💾 Cloud Sync

- Sync providers, combos, and settings across devices
- Automatic background sync
- Secure encrypted storage
- Access your setup from anywhere

#### Cloud Runtime Notes

- Prefer server-side cloud variables in production:
  - `BASE_URL` (internal callback URL used by sync scheduler)
  - `CLOUD_URL` (cloud sync endpoint base)
- `NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL` and `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLOUD_URL` are still supported for compatibility/UI, but server runtime now prioritizes `BASE_URL`/`CLOUD_URL`.
- Cloud sync requests now use timeout + fail-fast behavior to avoid UI hanging when cloud DNS/network is unavailable.

### 📊 Usage Analytics

- Track token usage per provider and model
- Cost estimation and spending trends
- Monthly reports and insights
- Optimize your AI spending

> **💡 IMPORTANT - Understanding Dashboard Costs:**
> 
> The "cost" displayed in Usage Analytics is **for tracking and comparison purposes only**. 
> 9Router itself **never charges** you anything. You only pay providers directly (if using paid services).
> 
> **Example:** If your dashboard shows "$290 total cost" while using iFlow models, this represents 
> what you would have paid using paid APIs directly. Your actual cost = **$0** (iFlow is free unlimited).
> 
> Think of it as a "savings tracker" showing how much you're saving by using free models or 
> routing through 9Router!

### 🌐 Deploy Anywhere

- 💻 **Localhost** - Default, works offline
- ☁️ **VPS/Cloud** - Share across devices
- 🐳 **Docker** - One-command deployment
- 🚀 **Cloudflare Workers** - Global edge network

</details>

---

## 💰 Pricing at a Glance

| Tier | Provider | Cost | Quota Reset | Best For |
|------|----------|------|-------------|----------|
| **🚀 TOKEN SAVER** | **RTK (built-in)** | **FREE** | Always on | **Save 20-40% tokens on EVERY request** |
| **💳 SUBSCRIPTION** | Claude Code (Pro/Max) | $20-200/mo | 5h + weekly | Already subscribed |
| | Codex (Plus/Pro) | $20-200/mo | 5h + weekly | OpenAI users |
| | GitHub Copilot | $10-19/mo | Monthly | GitHub users |
| | Cursor IDE | $20/mo | Monthly | Cursor users |
| **💰 CHEAP** | GLM-5.1 / GLM-4.7 | $0.6/1M | Daily 10AM | Budget backup |
| | MiniMax M2.7 | $0.2/1M | 5-hour rolling | Cheapest option |
| | Kimi K2.5 | $9/mo flat | 10M tokens/mo | Predictable cost |
| **🆓 FREE** | Kiro AI | $0 | Unlimited | Claude 4.5 + GLM-5 + MiniMax free |
| | OpenCode Free | $0 | Unlimited | No auth, auto-fetch models |
| | Vertex AI | $300 credits | New GCP accounts | Gemini 3 Pro + DeepSeek + GLM-5 |

**💡 Pro Tip:** RTK + Kiro AI + OpenCode Free combo = **$0 cost + 20-40% token savings**!

---

### 📊 Understanding 9Router Costs & Billing

**9Router Billing Reality:**

✅ **9Router software = FREE forever** (open source, never charges)  
✅ **Dashboard "costs" = Display/tracking only** (not actual bills)  
✅ **You pay providers directly** (subscriptions or API fees)  
✅ **FREE providers stay FREE** (iFlow, Kiro, Qwen = $0 unlimited)  
❌ **9Router never sends invoices** or charges your card

**How Cost Display Works:**

The dashboard shows **estimated costs** as if you were using paid APIs directly. This is **not billing** - it's a comparison tool to show your savings.

**Example Scenario:**
```
Dashboard Display:
• Total Requests: 1,662
• Total Tokens: 47M
• Display Cost: $290

Reality Check:
• Provider: iFlow (FREE unlimited)
• Actual Payment: $0.00
• What $290 Means: Amount you SAVED by using free models!
```

**Payment Rules:**
- **Subscription providers** (Claude Code, Codex): Pay them directly via their websites
- **Cheap providers** (GLM, MiniMax): Pay them directly, 9Router just routes
- **FREE providers** (iFlow, Kiro, Qwen): Genuinely free forever, no hidden charges
- **9Router**: Never charges anything, ever

---

## 🎯 Use Cases

### Case 1: "I have Claude Pro subscription"

**Problem:** Quota expires unused, rate limits during heavy coding

**Solution:**
```
Combo: "maximize-claude"
  1. cc/claude-opus-4-7        (use subscription fully)
  2. glm/glm-5.1               (cheap backup when quota out)
  3. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5      (free emergency fallback)

Monthly cost: $20 (subscription) + ~$5 (backup) = $25 total
vs. $20 + hitting limits = frustration
```

### Case 2: "I want zero cost"

**Problem:** Can't afford subscriptions, need reliable AI coding

**Solution:**
```
Combo: "free-forever"
  1. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5      (Claude 4.5 free unlimited)
  2. kr/glm-5                  (GLM-5 free via Kiro)
  3. oc/<auto>                 (OpenCode Free, no auth)

Monthly cost: $0
Quality: Production-ready models + RTK saves 20-40% tokens
```

### Case 3: "I need 24/7 coding, no interruptions"

**Problem:** Deadlines, can't afford downtime

**Solution:**
```
Combo: "always-on"
  1. cc/claude-opus-4-7        (best quality)
  2. cx/gpt-5.5                (second subscription)
  3. glm/glm-5.1               (cheap, resets daily)
  4. minimax/MiniMax-M2.7      (cheapest, 5h reset)
  5. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5      (free unlimited)

Result: 5 layers of fallback = zero downtime
Monthly cost: $20-200 (subscriptions) + $10-20 (backup)
```

### Case 4: "I want FREE AI in OpenClaw"

**Problem:** Need AI assistant in messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack...), completely free

**Solution:**
```
Combo: "openclaw-free"
  1. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5      (Claude 4.5 free)
  2. kr/glm-5                  (GLM-5 free)
  3. kr/MiniMax-M2.5           (MiniMax free)

Monthly cost: $0
Access via: WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, iMessage, Signal...
```

---

## ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

<details>
<summary><b>📊 Why does my dashboard show high costs?</b></summary>

The dashboard tracks your token usage and displays **estimated costs** as if you were using paid APIs directly. This is **not actual billing** - it's a reference to show how much you're saving by using free models or existing subscriptions through 9Router.

**Example:**
- **Dashboard shows:** "$290 total cost"
- **Reality:** You're using iFlow (FREE unlimited)
- **Your actual cost:** **$0.00**
- **What $290 means:** Amount you **saved** by using free models instead of paid APIs!

The cost display is a "savings tracker" to help you understand your usage patterns and optimization opportunities.

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>💳 Will I be charged by 9Router?</b></summary>

**No.** 9Router is free, open-source software that runs on your own computer. It never charges you anything.

**You only pay:**
- ✅ **Subscription providers** (Claude Code $20/mo, Codex $20-200/mo) → Pay them directly on their websites
- ✅ **Cheap providers** (GLM, MiniMax) → Pay them directly, 9Router just routes your requests
- ❌ **9Router itself** → **Never charges anything, ever**

9Router is a local proxy/router. It doesn't have your credit card, can't send invoices, and has no billing system. It's completely free software.

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>🆓 Are FREE providers really unlimited?</b></summary>

**Yes!** The current FREE providers (Kiro, OpenCode Free, Vertex) are genuinely free with **no hidden charges**.

These are free services offered by those respective companies:
- **Kiro AI**: Free unlimited Claude 4.5 + GLM-5 + MiniMax via AWS Builder ID / Google / GitHub OAuth
- **OpenCode Free**: No-auth passthrough proxy, models auto-fetched from `opencode.ai/zen/v1/models`
- **Vertex AI**: $300 free credits for new Google Cloud accounts (90 days)

9Router just routes your requests to them - there's no "catch" or future billing. They're truly free services, and 9Router makes them easy to use with fallback support.

**Discontinued free tiers (no longer recommended):**
- ❌ **iFlow**: Was free unlimited, now changed to paid (2026)
- ❌ **Qwen Code**: Free OAuth tier discontinued by Alibaba on 2026-04-15
- ❌ **Gemini CLI**: Still works, but using it with non-CLI tools (Claude, Codex, Cursor...) may result in account bans — only use if you stick to Gemini CLI itself

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>💰 How do I minimize my actual AI costs?</b></summary>

**Free-First Strategy:**

1. **Start with 100% free combo:**
   ```
   1. gc/gemini-3-flash (180K/month free from Google)
   2. if/kimi-k2-thinking (unlimited free from iFlow)
   3. qw/qwen3-coder-plus (unlimited free from Qwen)
   ```
   **Cost: $0/month**

2. **Add cheap backup** only if you need it:
   ```
   4. glm/glm-4.7 ($0.6/1M tokens)
   ```
   **Additional cost: Only pay for what you actually use**

3. **Use subscription providers last:**
   - Only if you already have them
   - 9Router helps maximize their value through quota tracking

**Result:** Most users can operate at $0/month using only free tiers!

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>📈 What if my usage suddenly spikes?</b></summary>

9Router's smart fallback prevents surprise charges:

**Scenario:** You're on a coding sprint and blow through your quotas

**Without 9Router:**
- ❌ Hit rate limit → Work stops → Frustration
- ❌ Or: Accidentally rack up huge API bills

**With 9Router:**
- ✅ Subscription hits limit → Auto-fallback to cheap tier
- ✅ Cheap tier gets expensive → Auto-fallback to free tier
- ✅ Never stop coding → Predictable costs

**You're in control:** Set spending limits per provider in dashboard, and 9Router respects them.

</details>

---

## 📖 Setup Guide

<details>
<summary><b>🔐 Subscription Providers (Maximize Value)</b></summary>

### Claude Code (Pro/Max)

```bash
Dashboard → Providers → Connect Claude Code
→ OAuth login → Auto token refresh
→ 5-hour + weekly quota tracking

Models:
  cc/claude-opus-4-7
  cc/claude-opus-4-6
  cc/claude-sonnet-4-6
  cc/claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
```

**Pro Tip:** Use Opus for complex tasks, Sonnet for speed. 9Router tracks quota per model!

### OpenAI Codex (Plus/Pro)

```bash
Dashboard → Providers → Connect Codex
→ OAuth login (port 1455)
→ 5-hour + weekly reset

Models:
  cx/gpt-5.5
  cx/gpt-5.4
  cx/gpt-5.3-codex
  cx/gpt-5.2-codex
```

### GitHub Copilot

```bash
Dashboard → Providers → Connect GitHub
→ OAuth via GitHub
→ Monthly reset (1st of month)

Models:
  gh/gpt-5.4
  gh/claude-opus-4.7
  gh/claude-sonnet-4.6
  gh/gemini-3.1-pro-preview
  gh/grok-code-fast-1
```

### Cursor IDE

```bash
Dashboard → Providers → Connect Cursor
→ OAuth login
→ Monthly subscription

Models:
  cu/claude-4.6-opus-max
  cu/claude-4.5-sonnet-thinking
  cu/gpt-5.3-codex
```

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>💰 Cheap Providers (Backup)</b></summary>

### GLM-5.1 / GLM-4.7 (Daily reset, $0.6/1M)

1. Sign up: [Zhipu AI](https://open.bigmodel.cn/)
2. Get API key from Coding Plan
3. Dashboard → Add API Key:
   - Provider: `glm`
   - API Key: `your-key`

**Use:** `glm/glm-5.1`, `glm/glm-5`, `glm/glm-4.7`

**Pro Tip:** Coding Plan offers 3× quota at 1/7 cost! Reset daily 10:00 AM.

### MiniMax M2.7 (5h reset, $0.20/1M)

1. Sign up: [MiniMax](https://www.minimax.io/)
2. Get API key
3. Dashboard → Add API Key

**Use:** `minimax/MiniMax-M2.7`, `minimax/MiniMax-M2.5`

**Pro Tip:** Cheapest option for long context (1M tokens)!

### Kimi K2.5 ($9/month flat)

1. Subscribe: [Moonshot AI](https://platform.moonshot.ai/)
2. Get API key
3. Dashboard → Add API Key

**Use:** `kimi/kimi-k2.5`, `kimi/kimi-k2.5-thinking`

**Pro Tip:** Fixed $9/month for 10M tokens = $0.90/1M effective cost!

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>🆓 FREE Providers (Recommended)</b></summary>

### Kiro AI (Claude 4.5 + GLM-5 + MiniMax FREE)

```bash
Dashboard → Connect Kiro
→ AWS Builder ID, AWS IAM Identity Center, Google, or GitHub
→ Unlimited usage

Models:
  kr/claude-sonnet-4.5
  kr/claude-haiku-4.5
  kr/glm-5
  kr/MiniMax-M2.5
  kr/qwen3-coder-next
  kr/deepseek-3.2
```

**Pro Tip:** Best free option for Claude. No API key, no payment, fully unlimited.

### OpenCode Free (No auth, auto-fetch models)

```bash
Dashboard → Connect OpenCode Free
→ No login required (passthrough proxy)
→ Models auto-fetched from opencode.ai/zen/v1/models
```

**Pro Tip:** Fastest setup. Just connect and start coding.

### Vertex AI ($300 free credits for new GCP accounts)

```bash
Dashboard → Connect Vertex AI
→ Upload Google Cloud Service Account JSON
→ Enable Vertex AI API in your GCP project

Models:
  vertex/gemini-3.1-pro-preview
  vertex/gemini-3-flash-preview
  vertex/gemini-2.5-flash

Vertex Partner (Anthropic / DeepSeek / GLM / Qwen via Vertex):
  vertex-partner/glm-5-maas
  vertex-partner/deepseek-v3.2-maas
  vertex-partner/qwen3-next-80b-a3b-thinking-maas
```

**Pro Tip:** New Google Cloud accounts get $300 credits free for 90 days. Plenty for daily coding.

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>🎨 Create Combos</b></summary>

### Example 1: Maximize Subscription → Cheap Backup

```
Dashboard → Combos → Create New

Name: premium-coding
Models:
  1. cc/claude-opus-4-7 (Subscription primary)
  2. glm/glm-5.1 (Cheap backup, $0.6/1M)
  3. minimax/MiniMax-M2.7 (Cheapest fallback, $0.20/1M)

Use in CLI: premium-coding

Monthly cost example (100M tokens):
  80M via Claude (subscription): $0 extra
  15M via GLM: $9
  5M via MiniMax: $1
  Total: $10 + your subscription
```

### Example 2: Free-Only (Zero Cost)

```
Name: free-combo
Models:
  1. kr/claude-sonnet-4.5 (Claude 4.5 free unlimited)
  2. kr/glm-5 (GLM-5 free via Kiro)
  3. vertex/gemini-3.1-pro-preview ($300 free credits)

Cost: $0 forever (+ 20-40% token savings via RTK)!
```

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>🔧 CLI Integration</b></summary>

### Cursor IDE

```
Settings → Models → Advanced:
  OpenAI API Base URL: http://localhost:20128/v1
  OpenAI API Key: [from 9router dashboard]
  Model: cc/claude-opus-4-7
```

Or use combo: `premium-coding`

### Claude Code

Edit `~/.claude/config.json`:

```json
{
  "anthropic_api_base": "http://localhost:20128/v1",
  "anthropic_api_key": "your-9router-api-key"
}
```

### Codex CLI

```bash
export OPENAI_BASE_URL="http://localhost:20128"
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-9router-api-key"

codex "your prompt"
```

### OpenClaw

**Option 1 — Dashboard (recommended):**

```
Dashboard → CLI Tools → OpenClaw → Select Model → Apply
```

**Option 2 — Manual:** Edit `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json`:

```json
{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "9router/kr/claude-sonnet-4.5"
      }
    }
  },
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "9router": {
        "baseUrl": "http://127.0.0.1:20128/v1",
        "apiKey": "sk_9router",
        "api": "openai-completions",
        "models": [
          {
            "id": "kr/claude-sonnet-4.5",
            "name": "Claude Sonnet 4.5 (Kiro Free)"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}
```

> **Note:** OpenClaw only works with local 9Router. Use `127.0.0.1` instead of `localhost` to avoid IPv6 resolution issues.

### Cline / Continue / RooCode

```
Provider: OpenAI Compatible
Base URL: http://localhost:20128/v1
API Key: [from dashboard]
Model: cc/claude-opus-4-7
```

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>🚀 Deployment</b></summary>

### VPS Deployment

```bash
# Clone and install
git clone https://github.com/decolua/9router.git
cd 9router
npm install
npm run build

# Configure
export JWT_SECRET="your-secure-secret-change-this"
export INITIAL_PASSWORD="your-password"
export DATA_DIR="/var/lib/9router"
export PORT="20128"
export HOSTNAME="0.0.0.0"
export NODE_ENV="production"
export NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL="http://localhost:20128"
export NEXT_PUBLIC_CLOUD_URL="https://9router.com"
export API_KEY_SECRET="endpoint-proxy-api-key-secret"
export MACHINE_ID_SALT="endpoint-proxy-salt"

# Start
npm run start

# Or use PM2
npm install -g pm2
pm2 start npm --name 9router -- start
pm2 save
pm2 startup
```

### Docker

```bash
# Build image (from repository root)
docker build -t 9router .

# Run container (command used in current setup)
docker run -d \
  --name 9router \
  -p 20128:20128 \
  --env-file /root/dev/9router/.env \
  -v 9router-data:/app/data \
  -v 9router-usage:/root/.9router \
  9router
```

Portable command (if you are already at repository root):

```bash
docker run -d \
  --name 9router \
  -p 20128:20128 \
  --env-file ./.env \
  -v 9router-data:/app/data \
  -v 9router-usage:/root/.9router \
  9router
```

Container defaults:
- `PORT=20128`
- `HOSTNAME=0.0.0.0`

Useful commands:

```bash
docker logs -f 9router
docker restart 9router
docker stop 9router && docker rm 9router
```

### Environment Variables

| Variable | Default | Description |
|----------|---------|-------------|
| `JWT_SECRET` | `9router-default-secret-change-me` | JWT signing secret for dashboard auth cookie (**change in production**) |
| `INITIAL_PASSWORD` | `123456` | First login password when no saved hash exists |
| `DATA_DIR` | `~/.9router` | Main app database location (`db.json`) |
| `PORT` | framework default | Service port (`20128` in examples) |
| `HOSTNAME` | framework default | Bind host (Docker defaults to `0.0.0.0`) |
| `NODE_ENV` | runtime default | Set `production` for deploy |
| `BASE_URL` | `http://localhost:20128` | Server-side internal base URL used by cloud sync jobs |
| `CLOUD_URL` | `https://9router.com` | Server-side cloud sync endpoint base URL |
| `NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL` | `http://localhost:3000` | Backward-compatible/public base URL (prefer `BASE_URL` for server runtime) |
| `NEXT_PUBLIC_CLOUD_URL` | `https://9router.com` | Backward-compatible/public cloud URL (prefer `CLOUD_URL` for server runtime) |
| `API_KEY_SECRET` | `endpoint-proxy-api-key-secret` | HMAC secret for generated API keys |
| `MACHINE_ID_SALT` | `endpoint-proxy-salt` | Salt for stable machine ID hashing |
| `ENABLE_REQUEST_LOGS` | `false` | Enables request/response logs under `logs/` |
| `AUTH_COOKIE_SECURE` | `false` | Force `Secure` auth cookie (set `true` behind HTTPS reverse proxy) |
| `REQUIRE_API_KEY` | `false` | Enforce Bearer API key on `/v1/*` routes (recommended for internet-exposed deploys) |
| `HTTP_PROXY`, `HTTPS_PROXY`, `ALL_PROXY`, `NO_PROXY` | empty | Optional outbound proxy for upstream provider calls |

Notes:
- Lowercase proxy variables are also supported: `http_proxy`, `https_proxy`, `all_proxy`, `no_proxy`.
- `.env` is not baked into Docker image (`.dockerignore`); inject runtime config with `--env-file` or `-e`.
- On Windows, `APPDATA` can be used for local storage path resolution.
- `INSTANCE_NAME` appears in older docs/env templates, but is currently not used at runtime.

### Runtime Files and Storage

- Main app state: `${DATA_DIR}/db.json` (providers, combos, aliases, keys, settings), managed by `src/lib/localDb.js`.
- Usage history and logs: `~/.9router/usage.json` and `~/.9router/log.txt`, managed by `src/lib/usageDb.js`.
- Optional request/translator logs: `<repo>/logs/...` when `ENABLE_REQUEST_LOGS=true`.
- Usage storage currently follows `~/.9router` path logic and is independent from `DATA_DIR`.

</details>

---

## 📊 Available Models

<details>
<summary><b>View all available models</b></summary>

**Claude Code (`cc/`)** - Pro/Max:
- `cc/claude-opus-4-7`
- `cc/claude-opus-4-6`
- `cc/claude-sonnet-4-6`
- `cc/claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929`
- `cc/claude-haiku-4-5-20251001`

**Codex (`cx/`)** - Plus/Pro:
- `cx/gpt-5.5`
- `cx/gpt-5.4`
- `cx/gpt-5.3-codex`
- `cx/gpt-5.2-codex`
- `cx/gpt-5.1-codex-max`

**GitHub Copilot (`gh/`)**:
- `gh/gpt-5.4`
- `gh/claude-opus-4.7`
- `gh/claude-sonnet-4.6`
- `gh/gemini-3.1-pro-preview`
- `gh/grok-code-fast-1`

**Cursor (`cu/`)** - Subscription:
- `cu/claude-4.6-opus-max`
- `cu/claude-4.5-sonnet-thinking`
- `cu/gpt-5.3-codex`
- `cu/kimi-k2.5`

**GLM (`glm/`)** - $0.6/1M:
- `glm/glm-5.1`
- `glm/glm-5`
- `glm/glm-4.7`

**MiniMax (`minimax/`)** - $0.2/1M:
- `minimax/MiniMax-M2.7`
- `minimax/MiniMax-M2.5`

**Kimi (`kimi/`)** - $9/mo flat:
- `kimi/kimi-k2.5`
- `kimi/kimi-k2.5-thinking`

**Kiro (`kr/`)** - FREE unlimited:
- `kr/claude-sonnet-4.5`
- `kr/claude-haiku-4.5`
- `kr/glm-5`
- `kr/MiniMax-M2.5`
- `kr/qwen3-coder-next`
- `kr/deepseek-3.2`

**OpenCode Free (`oc/`)** - FREE no-auth:
- Auto-fetched from `opencode.ai/zen/v1/models`

**Vertex AI (`vertex/`)** - $300 free credits:
- `vertex/gemini-3.1-pro-preview`
- `vertex/gemini-3-flash-preview`
- `vertex/gemini-2.5-flash`
- `vertex-partner/glm-5-maas`
- `vertex-partner/deepseek-v3.2-maas`

</details>

---

## 🐛 Troubleshooting

**"Language model did not provide messages"**
- Provider quota exhausted → Check dashboard quota tracker
- Solution: Use combo fallback or switch to cheaper tier

**Rate limiting**
- Subscription quota out → Fallback to GLM/MiniMax
- Add combo: `cc/claude-opus-4-7 → glm/glm-5.1 → kr/claude-sonnet-4.5`

**OAuth token expired**
- Auto-refreshed by 9Router
- If issues persist: Dashboard → Provider → Reconnect

**High costs**
- Enable RTK in Dashboard → Endpoint settings (default ON, saves 20-40% tokens)
- Check usage stats in Dashboard
- Switch primary model to GLM/MiniMax
- Use free tier (Kiro, OpenCode Free, Vertex) for non-critical tasks

**Dashboard opens on wrong port**
- Set `PORT=20128` and `NEXT_PUBLIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:20128`

**First login not working**
- Check `INITIAL_PASSWORD` in `.env`
- If unset, fallback password is `123456`

**No request logs under `logs/`**
- Set `ENABLE_REQUEST_LOGS=true`

---

## 🛠️ Tech Stack

- **Runtime**: Node.js 20+
- **Framework**: Next.js 16
- **UI**: React 19 + Tailwind CSS 4
- **Database**: LowDB (JSON file-based)
- **Streaming**: Server-Sent Events (SSE)
- **Auth**: OAuth 2.0 (PKCE) + JWT + API Keys

---

## 📝 API Reference

### Chat Completions

```bash
POST http://localhost:20128/v1/chat/completions
Authorization: Bearer your-api-key
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "model": "cc/claude-opus-4-6",
  "messages": [
    {"role": "user", "content": "Write a function to..."}
  ],
  "stream": true
}
```

### List Models

```bash
GET http://localhost:20128/v1/models
Authorization: Bearer your-api-key

→ Returns all models + combos in OpenAI format
```

## 📧 Support

- **Website**: [9router.com](https://9router.com)
- **GitHub**: [github.com/decolua/9router](https://github.com/decolua/9router)
- **Issues**: [github.com/decolua/9router/issues](https://github.com/decolua/9router/issues)

---

## 👥 Contributors

Thanks to all contributors who helped make 9Router better!

[![Contributors](https://contrib.rocks/image?repo=decolua/9router&max=150&columns=15&anon=1&v=20260309)](https://github.com/decolua/9router/graphs/contributors)

---

## 📊 Star Chart

[![Star Chart](https://starchart.cc/decolua/9router.svg?variant=adaptive)](https://starchart.cc/decolua/9router)



## 🔀 Forks

**[OmniRoute](https://github.com/diegosouzapw/OmniRoute)** — A full-featured TypeScript fork of 9Router. Adds 36+ providers, 4-tier auto-fallback, multi-modal APIs (images, embeddings, audio, TTS), circuit breaker, semantic cache, LLM evaluations, and a polished dashboard. 368+ unit tests. Available via npm and Docker.

---

## 🙏 Acknowledgments

Special thanks to **CLIProxyAPI** - the original Go implementation that inspired this JavaScript port.

---

## 📄 License

MIT License - see [LICENSE](LICENSE) for details.

---

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