OpenRouter · OpenRouter Terms of Service · View original document ↗

24-Hour Refund Window and Non-Refundable Credits

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Document Record

What it is

You have only 24 hours after buying credits to request a refund. After that window, unused credits cannot be refunded. Crypto payments can never be refunded.

This analysis describes what OpenRouter's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The agreement establishes a narrow 24-hour refund window, after which any unused credits are retained by OpenRouter with no obligation to refund; this is a material financial term for users who purchase significant credit balances.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users who purchase credits and do not use them lose the ability to recover funds after 24 hours; platform fees are non-refundable at any time, and cryptocurrency payments are categorically excluded from refunds.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Dispute a Fee
    Within 24 hours
    Log in to your OpenRouter account, navigate to the Credits settings page at https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits, and click the refund button within 24 hours of your credit purchase.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle 24-Hour Refund Window and Non-Refundable Credits and similar clauses.

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
Once purchased, refunds for unused Credits may be requested within twenty-four (24) hours from the time the transaction was processed. If no refund request is received within twenty-four (24) hours following the purchase, any unused Credits become non-refundable. To request a refund within the eligible period, you can use the refund button on the Credits page. The unused credit amount will be refunded to your payment method; the platform fees are non-refundable. Cryptocurrency payments are never refundable.

— Excerpt from OpenRouter's OpenRouter Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: A 24-hour refund window for digital goods may engage consumer protection regulations in the EU (including the Consumer Rights Directive, which provides a 14-day withdrawal right for distance contracts, though digital content exceptions may apply) and in various US states with digital goods refund requirements. The FTC's rules on unfair or deceptive practices are relevant to short refund windows that may not be adequately disclosed at point of sale. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The 24-hour window is operationally distinct from the 14-day statutory withdrawal right available to EU/EEA consumers under the Consumer Rights Directive, creating potential enforceability issues for EU deployments. The absolute non-refundability of cryptocurrency payments may face additional scrutiny in jurisdictions regulating digital asset transactions. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: EU/EEA users may have statutory rights to a longer withdrawal period that supersede this 24-hour contractual limit. California's consumer protection statutes and various state automatic renewal laws may interact with the credit and auto-recharge provisions. Cryptocurrency non-refundability may engage regulations in jurisdictions with virtual asset service provider frameworks. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprise procurement teams should note that the minimum purchase amount is $5 and the maximum is $25,000 per transaction, and that platform fees are non-refundable regardless of usage. Organizations enabling auto-recharge for their accounts should document authorization controls to avoid unauthorized charges. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Consumer-facing deployments in the EU/EEA should evaluate whether the 24-hour refund policy satisfies statutory withdrawal rights or whether additional disclosures are required. Payment processing compliance teams should review the cryptocurrency non-refund policy for consistency with any applicable virtual asset regulations in jurisdictions where the service is offered.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over unfair or deceptive trade practices, including refund policies and disclosures for digital goods and services.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State attorneys general may have authority over consumer refund rights for digital purchases under state consumer protection statutes.
    File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information
Document
OpenRouter Terms of Service
Entity
OpenRouter
Document last updated
May 12, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
May 12, 2026
Last verified
May 12, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-011889
Document ID
CA-D-00810
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
3b6f88e048a976fcb3beebb8fa5d94c8398d1eee6eb5924035105dab83cb5b1e
Analysis generated
May 12, 2026 16:00 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: OpenRouter
Document: OpenRouter Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-011889
Captured: 2026-05-12 16:00:19 UTC
SHA-256: 3b6f88e048a976fc…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openrouter/openrouter-terms-of-service/24-hour-refund-window-and-non-refundable-credits/
Accessed: May 13, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
Medium
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does OpenRouter's 24-Hour Refund Window and Non-Refundable Credits clause do?

The agreement establishes a narrow 24-hour refund window, after which any unused credits are retained by OpenRouter with no obligation to refund; this is a material financial term for users who purchase significant credit balances.

How does this clause affect you?

Users who purchase credits and do not use them lose the ability to recover funds after 24 hours; platform fees are non-refundable at any time, and cryptocurrency payments are categorically excluded from refunds.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with OpenRouter?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by OpenRouter.