Change record
CA-C-004197
OpenRouter Terms of Service
Entity
Date detected
August 5, 2026
Severity
Direction
Neutral
Taxonomy
Security change
Changes
+11 sentences added · 5 sentences modified

Impact Summary

Medium Neutral for users
Affected users
All users Api developers Startup program participants

OpenRouter added detailed provisions governing API credentials, promotional credits, and credit management in an update detected on August 5, 2026. The revised terms establish that users are responsible for all activity under their API credentials except where caused by OpenRouter's breach, require notification of suspected unauthorized access, and permit OpenRouter to suspend or revoke credentials if reasonably necessary to protect the service. The terms also clarify that promotional credits have no cash value, expire on specified dates, are non-transferable, and are subject to different refund rules than purchased credits.

2 new obligations

Developers: You are responsible for keeping your API keys secure and must tell OpenRouter immediately if you think someone else is using them.

Consumers: Free promotional credits OpenRouter gives you cannot be converted to money, refunded, or transferred to another account, and will stop working on the expiration date.

Consumers: OpenRouter can disable your account or API credentials if it thinks doing so is necessary to protect security.

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What this means for you

The updated terms establish that users are responsible for all account activity and charges occurring under their API credentials, with the exception of activity directly caused by OpenRouter's breach of the terms. Users are required to promptly notify OpenRouter of any actual or suspected compromise or unauthorized use of API credentials. OpenRouter reserves the right to suspend, revoke, or limit API credentials or account access if OpenRouter reasonably believes doing so is necessary to protect the service, the user, OpenRouter, or any third party. Additionally, promotional credits provided by OpenRouter have no cash value, cannot be refunded or exchanged except under specific conditions, are non-transferable between accounts, and expire on dates specified at issuance or in accordance with the terms. You can manage your API credentials through your account settings and should promptly contact OpenRouter if you suspect unauthorized access.

What you can do

Review your API credential management practices to ensure compliance with the security and confidentiality requirements stated in the updated terms.

If you receive promotional credits, document their expiration date and confirm the non-refundability and non-transferability restrictions before using them.

Historical Context

ConductAtlas has recorded 2 material changes to this document (since July 2026). An additional minor or cosmetic changes were excluded.

Key Clauses Affected

API Credential Responsibility

Users are liable for all account activity under their API credentials except where directly caused by OpenRouter's breach of terms.

Promotional Credit Terms

Promotional credits have no cash value, are non-refundable and non-transferable, expire on specified dates, and do not qualify for standard refund protections.

Credential Suspension Authority

OpenRouter may suspend, revoke, or limit API credentials or account access if reasonably believed necessary to protect the service or any party.

Full clause-by-clause analysis available with Insight.

This change record describes what was added, removed, or modified in the document. Analysis reflects what the updated agreement states or permits. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Applicability may vary by jurisdiction. Methodology

Evidence Verification

✓ Verified
Previous Version
3161b8097f5a17dc974e4d84a20db0b4848a54c36e6abf02458be497ce2eb39c
July 28, 2026 01:22 UTC
✓ Verified
Current Version
261ab3a43f4aeff852a835440b4f81e6372624c030e7b97f33feeba7022e56f9
August 5, 2026 01:25 UTC
✓ Verified
Change Detected
August 5, 2026 01:25 UTC
Analysis Methodology
✓ Verified
Source Document
https://openrouter.ai/terms
Citation Record
Entity: OpenRouter
Document: OpenRouter Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-C-004197
Captured: 2026-08-05 01:25:11 UTC
URL: https://conductatlas.com/change/2026-08-05-openrouter-openrouter-terms-of-service-4197/
Accessed: Aug. 5, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
For legal and compliance teams

Institutional Analysis

Assessment

OpenRouter added explicit API credential liability and security notification requirements, plus detailed promotional credit restrictions. The change clarifies user responsibility for account activity while preserving OpenRouter's ability to suspend credentials for security reasons. The promotional …

🔒 Full institutional analysis

Regulatory exposure, obligation change, escalation trigger, board-ready language, and recommended action for legal and compliance teams.

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ConductAtlas provides verified policy intelligence sourced directly from platform documents. All analysis is intended to support, not replace, legal and compliance review. Record CA-C-004197.

Full Changes

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Document Context

Version history → Policy drift analysis → Document page →
Document
OpenRouter Terms of Service
Entity
OpenRouter
Captured
August 5, 2026
Source URL
https://openrouter.ai/terms
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Previous change Jul 28, 2026
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Low Neutral
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