# OrcaRouter

Connects agents to a catalog of 160+ models and routes completions through fallback chains directly in your editor.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 13
- Author: Continuum-AI-Corp
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/Continuum-AI-Corp/orcarouter-mcp-server
- Updated: 2026-10-22
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/orcarouter

## What it does

This server connects developer clients directly to the OrcaRouter gateway. Tools such as `orcarouter_models_list` and `orcarouter_model_card` fetch live pricing, context window limits, and latency figures. Catalog inspection requires no account token.

Executing prompts with `orcarouter_chat` routes completions through specific endpoints or the `orcarouter/auto` selector. That selector balances cost, quality, or adaptive scoring while supporting fallback lists of up to 4 backup models.

Node.js 18 or higher must be present on your host. If `ORCAROUTER_API_KEY` is omitted, prompt calls immediately fail, though model lookup commands remain active.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `ORCAROUTER_API_KEY`, `ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL`, `ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add --env ORCAROUTER_API_KEY=<ORCAROUTER_API_KEY> --env ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL=<ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL> --env ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT=<ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT> --transport stdio orcarouter -- npx -y @orcarouter/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add orcarouter --env ORCAROUTER_API_KEY=<ORCAROUTER_API_KEY> --env ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL=<ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL> --env ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT=<ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT> -- npx -y @orcarouter/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "orcarouter": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@orcarouter/mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "ORCAROUTER_API_KEY": "<ORCAROUTER_API_KEY>",
                "ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL": "<ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL>",
                "ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT": "<ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "orcarouter": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@orcarouter/mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "ORCAROUTER_API_KEY": "<ORCAROUTER_API_KEY>",
                "ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL": "<ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL>",
                "ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT": "<ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e ORCAROUTER_API_KEY=<ORCAROUTER_API_KEY> -e ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL=<ORCAROUTER_BASE_URL> -e ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT=<ORCAROUTER_REQUEST_TIMEOUT> orcarouter npx -y @orcarouter/mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- compare live LLM rates and context limits across multiple hosts
- configure automated model failover with up to 4 fallbacks
- route prompts through adaptive selection algorithms
- inspect model latency and supported endpoints before querying

## Example prompts
- List all available Anthropic models and their prices
- Retrieve the detailed card for model `minimax/minimax-m2.7`
- Ask `orcarouter/auto` to explain quantum computing principles

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md