OpenRouter + Cursor: Practical Cost Routing for AI Development
Cost control comes from routing discipline, not from one model choice.
Working pattern
- low-cost lanes for routine coding,
- stronger lanes for architecture and hard reviews,
- periodic roster updates.
Key controls
- separate API keys by context,
- explicit model routing rules,
- review of availability and rate limits.
Bottom line
Model routing is an operations policy; maintain it continuously to keep cost and quality balanced.