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Cursor + OpenRouter Setup

This guide walks you through setting up Claude-Mem in Cursor using OpenRouter. OpenRouter provides access to 100+ AI models from various providers, including several free options.
Model variety: Access Claude, GPT-4, Gemini, Llama, Mistral, and many more through a single API key.

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Step 1: Get an OpenRouter API Key

  1. Go to OpenRouter
  2. Sign up or sign in
  3. Navigate to API Keys
  4. Click Create Key
  5. Copy your API key - you’ll need it in Step 3
Free models available: OpenRouter offers free versions of several models including Gemini Flash and others. Check the model list for current free options.

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Step 2: Clone and Build Claude-Mem

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/thedotmack/claude-mem.git
cd claude-mem

# Install dependencies
bun install

# Build the project
bun run build

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Step 3: Configure OpenRouter Provider

Run the setup wizard which guides you through everything: 
bun run cursor:setup
When prompted for provider, select OpenRouter.

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Option B: Manual Configuration

Create the settings file manually: 
# Create settings directory
mkdir -p ~/.claude-mem

# Create settings file with OpenRouter configuration
cat > ~/.claude-mem/settings.json << 'EOF'
{
  "CLAUDE_MEM_PROVIDER": "openrouter",
  "CLAUDE_MEM_OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_API_KEY"
}
EOF
Replace YOUR_OPENROUTER_API_KEY with your actual API key. Then install hooks and start the worker: 
bun run cursor:install
bun run worker:start

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Step 4: Restart Cursor

Close and reopen Cursor IDE for the hooks to take effect.

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Step 5: Verify Installation

# Check worker is running
bun run worker:status

# Check hooks are installed
bun run cursor:status
Open http://localhost:37777 to see the memory viewer.

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Free Models

ModelProviderNotes
google/gemini-2.0-flash-exp:freeGoogleFast, capable
xiaomi/mimo-v2-flash:freeXiaomiGood general purpose
ModelApprox. CostNotes
anthropic/claude-3-haiku~$0.25/1M tokensFast, efficient
google/gemini-flash-1.5~$0.075/1M tokensGreat value
mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct~$0.07/1M tokensBudget option
To specify a model, add to your settings: 
{
  "CLAUDE_MEM_PROVIDER": "openrouter",
  "CLAUDE_MEM_OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "your-key",
  "CLAUDE_MEM_OPENROUTER_MODEL": "google/gemini-2.0-flash-exp:free"
}

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Cost Management

OpenRouter charges per token. To manage costs:
  1. Use free models: Several high-quality free models are available
  2. Monitor usage: Check your OpenRouter dashboard
  3. Set spending limits: Configure limits in OpenRouter settings
Cost awareness: Unlike Gemini’s free tier, OpenRouter paid models charge per request. Monitor your usage if using paid models.

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Troubleshooting

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”OpenRouter API key not configured”

Ensure your settings file exists with the correct format: 
cat ~/.claude-mem/settings.json
Should output something like: 
{
  "CLAUDE_MEM_PROVIDER": "openrouter",
  "CLAUDE_MEM_OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "sk-or-..."
}

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Model not found

  1. Check the model ID is correct at OpenRouter Models
  2. Some models may require payment - check if you have credits
  3. Free models have :free suffix in their ID

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Rate limits

OpenRouter rate limits vary by model and your account tier. If you hit limits:
  1. Wait briefly and retry
  2. Consider upgrading your OpenRouter account tier
  3. Switch to a less popular model

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API errors

Check the worker logs for details: 
bun run worker:logs
Common issues:
  • Invalid API key (regenerate at OpenRouter)
  • Insufficient credits for paid models
  • Model temporarily unavailable

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Switching Providers Later

You can switch between OpenRouter, Gemini, and Claude SDK at any time by updating your settings. No restart required - changes take effect on the next observation. 
{
  "CLAUDE_MEM_PROVIDER": "gemini"
}

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Next Steps