Authentication & credits

API keys

Every request to /v1/* and /mcp needs a bearer key:

Authorization: Bearer rt_live_...

Create and revoke keys in the dashboard. Keys are hashed at rest and shown only once at creation.

Credits

Route Tools is prepaid, like OpenRouter:

• New accounts get $2 free.
• Top up in $10 / $50 / $100 packs from the dashboard (Stripe).
• Every successful call debits your balance by the listed provider price.
• When the balance hits zero, calls return 402 insufficient_credits.

Failed calls (every provider in the chain errored) are never charged.

Checking balance and usage

curl https://api.route.tools/v1/key -H "Authorization: Bearer rt_live_..."
# { "api_key_id": "...", "credits_remaining_usd": 1.84 }

curl https://api.route.tools/v1/usage -H "Authorization: Bearer rt_live_..."
# { "by_provider": [...], "recent": [...] }

Rate limits

300 requests/minute per API key by default. Need more? Reach out.