OpenRouter integration
OpenRouter BYOK for sales AI
OpenRouter is the gateway every AI feature in AgentSDR runs through, on your own provider keys. You choose the providers and models, and a request never moves to one you did not approve.
OpenRouter
Bring your own key, one gateway for every model call
- Connected in
- Settings, AI provider
- Powers
- Reply classificationDraftsAI columnsTranscription
- Credentials
- Verified with one live call, then stored encrypted
What it powers
Every AI step, on one key
Without OpenRouter connected, these features cannot run. AgentSDR works only in bring-your-own-key mode.
Reply classification and drafts
The CRM reads each reply, classifies it and drafts an answer, using your default model.AI columns in Tables
Each AI column runs on one of the models you allowed. Only ticked models appear in the column setup.Call transcription
WhatsApp recordings are transcribed by the model you choose, which must accept audio input. It is off until you pick one.Internal tasks
Other tasks, such as the formula generator, use the default model.
What you need
An OpenRouter account and a key from at least one model provider
- An OpenRouter account.
- An account with at least one model provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and so on) and an API key from it, added to OpenRouter's BYOK settings.
- Two OpenRouter keys: an inference key (it starts with sk-or-v1-) and a management key (it starts with sk-or-mgmt-). The management key cannot run models; AgentSDR uses it only to read which provider keys you added.
- The owner or admin role in AgentSDR.
Setup
From provider keys to a saved default model
The short version. The documentation has each OpenRouter page to open and the fix for each error.
- 01
Add your provider keys in OpenRouter
Add each provider's API key under BYOK, keep it in the prioritised section, and set shared capacity to never. - 02
Create two OpenRouter keys
An inference key and a management key. Copy each when it is shown. - 03
Verify and connect
In Settings, AI provider, paste both keys. AgentSDR checks the inference key, reads your BYOK keys and needs at least one active prioritised key. - 04
Choose providers and models
Switch on the providers AgentSDR may use, tick the models you allow and pick a default model that supports structured output. - 05
Confirm and save
Optionally pick a call transcription model, tick Never use shared capacity and save. Until you confirm it, AgentSDR blocks every model call.
The full step-by-step guide with screenshots and troubleshooting
Security and data
Provider pinned, fallbacks off, no markup
A failed request fails. It never silently moves to another provider or to shared capacity.
Provider pinning
For every text request AgentSDR sends the one provider of the model you chose, with allow_fallbacks off and require_parameters on. Image requests use the same single-provider pin with fallbacks off.Your keys, your bill
AgentSDR adds no markup and shows no prices. Usage on a BYOK key is billed by the model provider to your own account. Anything OpenRouter itself charges is billed by OpenRouter.Encrypted at rest
Saved credentials are encrypted with AES-256-GCM using your instance's INTEGRATION_CREDENTIALS_KEY and are never sent back to the browser. Leave a secret field blank when editing to keep the saved value.Verified before saving
Each credential is checked with one live call before it is saved. If the check fails, nothing is stored and the form shows the reason.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Does AgentSDR have its own AI key?
No. Every model call runs through OpenRouter on your organization's own keys, and there is no environment fallback. Until you connect an account, choose a default model and confirm shared capacity is off, AgentSDR blocks model calls.
What does BYOK mean here?
Bring your own key. You add your model providers' API keys to OpenRouter, and AgentSDR sends requests that use them. Model usage is billed by the provider to your own account.
Why are fallbacks turned off?
With fallbacks on, a failed request could move to another provider, or to OpenRouter's shared capacity, spending OpenRouter's credits and sending your data to a provider you never approved. With fallbacks off a failure is a failure, which costs some resilience and keeps your data and spend on the providers you chose.
Which models can I use?
Any model from the providers whose keys you added in OpenRouter. You tick the ones AgentSDR may use. The default model must support structured output, and the transcription model must accept audio input.
Is call transcription on by default?
No. It is off until you choose a transcription model. Gemini models merge the audio channels, so who spoke is inferred rather than labelled.
What happens if I switch OpenRouter accounts?
Switching to a different account clears your providers, models, default model, transcription model and the shared capacity confirmation, so you set them up again.
Blog
From the blog
Sales Strategy10 Best Open Source CRM Platforms for Sales TeamsEvaluate the 10 best open source customer management platforms to gain full data control and customize your sales pipeline without recurring expensive monthly licensing fees.
Sales StrategyHow to Choose an Outbound Sales Platform for B2B TeamsEvaluate your tech stack with this practical framework for selecting outbound prospecting tools that actually help your B2B team hit revenue targets and scale.
Sales StrategyOutbound Sales Platform vs Sales Engagement Platform: Which Fits?Choosing between outbound and multichannel sales engagement platforms dictates your growth strategy. Compare these tools to identify which software aligns with your specific sales team.
Pages this integration powers
- AI CRMEvery reply classified and the lead moved for you
- Enrichment tablesAI columns, APIs, formulas and Apollo in a grid
- WhatsAppRecorded calls and message campaigns from your own number
- Open source & self-hostedMIT-licensed code on your server, with your own AI key
- Enrichment providersApollo, Hunter, Lusha and more inside Tables
- IntegrationsThe services AgentSDR connects to, per organization
Use any model, on your own key
Connect OpenRouter once and every classification, draft, AI column and transcript runs where you decided.