Claude Agent SDK vs OpenRouter
These two do quite different things, so neither is a direct alternative to the other.
Claude Agent SDK Anthropic
The agent loop behind Claude Code as a TypeScript and Python library, with tools, skills, MCP and subagents.
VisitOpenRouter OpenRouter
One API and bill for hundreds of models from every major provider, with fallbacks.
VisitSide by side
| Property | Claude Agent SDK | OpenRouter |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Product | Product |
| Category | AI agents and automation | AI models and APIs |
| Made by | Anthropic | OpenRouter |
| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |
| Open source | No | No |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | API | API |
| Startup | Yes | Yes |
Features
Only Claude Agent SDK
- agent framework
- mcp
- skills
- multi-agent
Both
None
Only OpenRouter
- llm api
- multi-model
- routing
- inference