OpenRouter · OpenRouter Terms of Service · View original document ↗

Auto-Recharge Recurring Payment Authorization

Medium severity High confidence Explicitdocumentlanguage Unique · 0 of 325 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

If you turn on Auto Recharge, OpenRouter will automatically charge your payment method whenever your credit balance drops below a threshold you set, without asking you each time.

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 terms authorize recurring automatic charges under the Auto Recharge feature; users who enable this setting should monitor their threshold settings, as charges occur automatically and each new purchase starts a new 24-hour refund window.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

The Auto Recharge feature authorizes OpenRouter to initiate charges to the user's stored payment method automatically when credits fall below a user-defined threshold; each auto-recharge transaction is subject to the same 24-hour refund window and platform fee non-refundability.

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.
  • Cancel Subscription
    Log in to your OpenRouter account, navigate to the account settings or Credits page, and update or cancel the Auto Recharge setting to stop automatic charges.

Cross-platform context

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
When purchasing Credits, you will have the option to automatically add Credits to your account by charging the payment method of your choosing when your available Credits are below a threshold amount you have set on your account ("Auto Recharge"). If you elect the Auto Recharge option, you authorize OpenRouter to automatically charge payments to your account. You may update or cancel Auto Recharge at any time through your account page.

— Excerpt from OpenRouter's OpenRouter Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Automatic recurring charges engage the FTC's guidelines on negative option marketing and recurring billing disclosures. California's Automatic Renewal Law requires specific disclosures and cancellation mechanisms for auto-renewing charges. NACHA rules and card network regulations may also apply to recurring payment authorizations. (2) GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: Medium. The terms state users can cancel Auto Recharge at any time through their account page, which provides a cancellation mechanism. However, the threshold-triggered nature of the charge (rather than a fixed billing date) may complicate compliance with recurring billing disclosure requirements in some jurisdictions. (3) JURISDICTION FLAGS: California's Automatic Renewal Law and similar statutes in other US states impose specific disclosure and consent requirements for auto-renewing charges. EU/EEA payment services regulations (PSD2) impose strong customer authentication and consent requirements for recurring payment mandates. (4) CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Enterprise accounts using Auto Recharge should ensure that the payment authorization is documented within their internal procurement controls. The terms note that Stripe and Coinbase process payments; their respective stored payment authorization terms also apply. (5) COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should confirm that the Auto Recharge enrollment flow includes the disclosures required by applicable automatic renewal laws, particularly for California-based users. Organizations deploying OpenRouter at scale through organizational accounts should review whether auto-recharge authorizations are appropriately scoped and documented.

Full compliance analysis

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

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Applicable agencies

  • FTC
    The FTC has authority over recurring billing disclosures and negative option marketing practices that may apply to the Auto Recharge feature.
    File a complaint →
  • State AG
    State automatic renewal laws, particularly California's, impose disclosure and cancellation requirements for auto-renewing charges.
    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-011890
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-011890
Captured: 2026-05-12 16:00:19 UTC
SHA-256: 3b6f88e048a976fc…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/openrouter/openrouter-terms-of-service/auto-recharge-recurring-payment-authorization/
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 Auto-Recharge Recurring Payment Authorization clause do?

The terms authorize recurring automatic charges under the Auto Recharge feature; users who enable this setting should monitor their threshold settings, as charges occur automatically and each new purchase starts a new 24-hour refund window.

How does this clause affect you?

The Auto Recharge feature authorizes OpenRouter to initiate charges to the user's stored payment method automatically when credits fall below a user-defined threshold; each auto-recharge transaction is subject to the same 24-hour refund window and platform fee non-refundability.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with OpenRouter?

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