OpenRouter App for iPhone: Use Your Own Key With ChatPing

ChatPing runs AI models on your iPhone. You can download an on-device model and chat with it, and once a model is downloaded, chat works offline. If you also want cloud models, you can add your own OpenRouter API key. This guide covers that optional side: how the key works on iPhone, how to add it and how to remove it.

OpenRouter on your iPhone. ChatPing runs AI models on your phone and also lets you add your own OpenRouter key for optional cloud models. Get it on the App Store. Not affiliated with OpenRouter or any model provider.

Do you need an OpenRouter key?

No. The on-device models in ChatPing need no key and no account: Qwen3.5 2B (the recommended one, about 1.3 GB), Qwen3.5 4B, Gemma 4 E2B and Llama 3.2 3B. You only need a key if you want cloud models. For the offline side, see the offline ChatGPT alternative for iPhone.

Add your OpenRouter key on iPhone

Get an API key from openrouter.ai. OpenRouter needs an account, even though ChatPing does not. For the steps, see how to get an OpenRouter API key.
In ChatPing, tap the menu at the top left of the chat screen.
Open AI Assistance, then OpenRouter (cloud).
Tap API key, paste your key and tap Save.

If you have no key saved, the screen also shows an "Add API key" row that opens the same dialog. The cloud model rows stay disabled until a key is saved.

Pick a cloud model

Once a key is saved, you can choose a model from the list. At the time of writing it includes Gemini 3.5 Flash, Claude Opus 5, Opus 5.5, Sonnet 5, Sonnet 5.5, Haiku 5.5, GPT-6 Sol and DeepSeek V4 Flash. The list can change, so check the app.

To use a model that is not listed, choose Other and type its model ID. Each ID you add gets its own row, and you can remove it again.

Remove your key

Go back to AI Assistance, then OpenRouter (cloud), and tap Delete key under the API key row. Confirm the prompt. Cloud models stop working until you add a key again. Your downloaded on-device models keep working.

What goes where

On-device models run on your phone. Your chat history is stored on your device, and there is no ChatPing account or cloud sync.
Cloud models send your message to the provider behind your OpenRouter key when you press send. Read OpenRouter's terms for the model you pick.
Usage and crash data: ChatPing uses Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics. Its seven usage events are anonymous and carry no message text. The app also shows ads from Google and Meta.

Attachments and assistant actions

You can attach PDF, text and Office files; their text is extracted on your phone. With an on-device model, images go through text recognition (OCR) rather than being seen by the model. With a cloud model that supports images, the image can be read directly.

With a cloud model, ChatPing's assistant can act inside the app: search your history, start a conversation, delete or clear one (with a confirmation), list and switch models, or summarize an attachment. ChatPing does not search the web or open links for you.

FAQ

Is there an OpenRouter app for iPhone? ChatPing is an iPhone app that lets you use your own OpenRouter key for cloud models, next to its on-device models.
Do I need a key to use ChatPing? No. Only cloud models need one.
Does ChatPing work offline? Yes, with an on-device model, once it is downloaded. Cloud models need a connection.
Is ChatPing affiliated with OpenRouter? No. ChatPing is independent and is not affiliated with OpenRouter or any model provider.
Where is my chat history? On your device. There is no account and no cloud sync.