---
title: Make an API request
description: Send a request directly to RouterHub with cURL or Python. No app or SDK needed. Get configuration, exact save locations, launch instructions, troubleshooting, and common questions.
canonical: https://routerhub.si/docs/tools/api-request
---

# Make an API request
Send a request directly to RouterHub with cURL or Python. No app or SDK needed.
[Try it in web chat](https://routerhub.si/)or choose a tool below
Current models, rates, availability, and limits: [Models & pricing](https://routerhub.si/models)

-
## Step 1: Set your API key
Get your [RouterHub API key](https://routerhub.si/dashboard/keys). Replace `PASTE_ROUTERHUB_KEY_HERE` below and run in your terminal:

### macOS / Linux
macOS / Linux

```
export ROUTERHUB_API_KEY='PASTE_ROUTERHUB_KEY_HERE'
```

### Windows (PowerShell)
Windows (PowerShell)

```
$env:ROUTERHUB_API_KEY = 'PASTE_ROUTERHUB_KEY_HERE'
```

Keep this terminal and its command history private. Never put your key in browser code or a repository.

-
## Step 2: Send a request
Copy a model ID with Chat Completions support from [Models & pricing](https://routerhub.si/models). Replace `MODEL_ID` in either example below.
Running a request uses prepaid credits. Run the cURL command in the same terminal:

### macOS / Linux
macOS / Linux

```
curl 'https://routerhub.si/v1/chat/completions' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ROUTERHUB_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --connect-timeout 30 --max-time 600 -d '{"model":"MODEL_ID","messages":[{"role":"user","content":"Reply with OK."}]}'
```

### Windows (PowerShell)
Windows (PowerShell)

```
$body = @'
{
  "model": "MODEL_ID",
  "messages": [
    {
      "role": "user",
      "content": "Reply with OK."
    }
  ]
}
'@
$body | curl.exe 'https://routerhub.si/v1/chat/completions' `
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $env:ROUTERHUB_API_KEY" `
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" `
  --connect-timeout 30 --max-time 600 --data-binary '@-'
```

**Or use Python**
With Python 3 installed, save this as `routerhub_request.py`. No extra packages are needed.
routerhub_request.py

```
import json
import os
from urllib.request import Request, urlopen

body = {
  "model": "MODEL_ID",
  "messages": [
    {
      "role": "user",
      "content": "Reply with OK."
    }
  ]
}
request = Request(
    "https://routerhub.si/v1/chat/completions",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["ROUTERHUB_API_KEY"],
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
)
with urlopen(request, timeout=600) as response:
    print(json.load(response)["choices"][0]["message"]["content"])
```

Run it in the same terminal where you set the key:

### macOS / Linux
macOS / Linux

```
python3 routerhub_request.py
```

### Windows (PowerShell)
Windows (PowerShell)

```
py routerhub_request.py
```

Check the request in [Usage](https://routerhub.si/dashboard/usage). For Responses or Anthropic Messages, use the examples in the [API quickstart](https://routerhub.si/quickstart.md) instead.

## Troubleshooting

**A request times out**
cURL allows 30 seconds to connect and 600 seconds for the complete request. Python uses a 600-second socket-operation timeout, not a total wall-clock deadline. These examples do not automatically retry. Check Usage and the request ID before rerunning: a local timeout does not prove that upstream work stopped.

**401 or missing API key**
Set `ROUTERHUB_API_KEY` in the same terminal before running the request. Use a RouterHub key, not a model vendor’s key.

**404 or model unavailable**
Replace `MODEL_ID` with an exact ID from [Models & pricing](https://routerhub.si/models). These examples require Chat Completions support; Responses and Messages use different request formats.

**Not enough credits**
Check your [balance](https://routerhub.si/dashboard/billing) before retrying. Requests are paid from RouterHub credits, not a tool subscription.

**cURL or Python is not found**
Use `curl.exe` in Windows PowerShell. Install [cURL](https://curl.se/download.html) or [Python 3](https://www.python.org/downloads/) if missing, then reopen your terminal and set the key again. If `py` is unavailable on Windows, try `python`.

Still stuck? [Contact support](https://routerhub.si/dashboard/support).

## Common questions

**Do I need the OpenAI SDK?**
No. The cURL example sends HTTP directly, and the Python example uses only Python’s standard library.

**Can I use any RouterHub model?**
These examples use Chat Completions. Choose a model supporting that API on the models page. The linked API quickstart has separate Responses and Anthropic Messages examples.

[Browse setup guides](https://routerhub.si/guides) · [API reference](https://routerhub.si/docs#api-reference)