Add `openrouter/free` to the OpenRouter `/model` picker

[andy-b-bad]

Summary

Please add openrouter/free to the curated OpenRouter model list used by the Hermes /model picker so it is selectable from the OpenRouter picker.

Why this matters

openrouter/free is the simplest free OpenRouter entry point for users who want a no-cost model/router without having to know or choose a specific :free backend model.

Right now, Hermes's OpenRouter picker uses a curated list, and openrouter/free is not included there, so it is not visible in the picker even though it exists and is usable on OpenRouter.

Current behavior

• Hermes shows a curated OpenRouter picker list
• openrouter/free does not appear in that picker
• Users must know other specific free model IDs instead of using the obvious free router option

Expected behavior

• openrouter/free should appear in the OpenRouter picker and be selectable there

Evidence

OpenRouter model page:

• https://openrouter.ai/openrouter/free

The live OpenRouter models API includes openrouter/free, and it is free and tool-capable.

Suggested implementation

Add openrouter/free to the curated OpenRouter model catalog used by Hermes so it appears in the /model picker.

Related issue

Related to, but narrower than:

• Feature request: Add free-tier filter to /models and include all free OpenRouter models in curated list #17923

That issue is about broader free-model discoverability and filtering.
This issue is specifically about making openrouter/free visible in the main OpenRouter picker.

[kgooris]

by typing in the model in the hermes configuration UI CONFIG->General->default model, you can change it directly to free. I know this is not whats asksed, but at least a quick work around :)

[GottZ]

This was generated by AI during triage.

Summary

Five PRs address or encompass the missing openrouter/free picker entry. #39972, #40762, and #62749 directly add the router to both curated sources; #15178 instead introduces a broader dynamically discovered free-model group, while #44892 changes the existing OpenRouter picker to a live free-only catalog.

Related pull requests

• feat(model): surface free OpenRouter models in model picker #15178 partial — (+405/-30) — partial fix, not the issue-scoped merge candidate: it would surface openrouter/free through a dynamic free-model group, but it substantially expands picker and Telegram behavior. The contributor keep_open review is explicitly addressed: the diff excludes qualifying nvidia/* models, uses duplicate openrouter slugs, and patches the obsolete gateway/platforms/telegram.py path rather than the current plugin adapter, so it requires the requested architectural rework before reconsideration.
• feat(openrouter): add free router to model picker #39972 best fix — (+6/-1) — fixes: it directly addresses the allowlist root cause by adding openrouter/free to OPENROUTER_MODELS and the generated hosted manifest. This is consistent with its keep_open review; the complete current diff contains no model-specific snapshot tests, matching the review's requested narrow source-list and manifest shape.
• feat(cli): add openrouter/free to model picker and model catalog #40762 fixes — (+6/-1) — fixes the same root cause as feat(openrouter): add free router to model picker #39972 by adding the same ID to both curated sources, with a more descriptive label. Despite the keep_open review on feat(cli): add openrouter/free to model picker and model catalog #40762, its diff is functionally duplicative and the contributor review documents that its branch conflicts with current main and needs manual salvage, whereas feat(openrouter): add free router to model picker #39972 is the earlier current alternative.
• fix: show only free OpenRouter models in picker #44892 [closed] partial — (+25/-7) — partial fix and still relevant as a closed, fork-only broader alternative: it can include openrouter/free by appending all live zero-priced, tool-capable models. It also removes paid models from the normal OpenRouter picker, which is a materially broader policy change than the reported missing allowlist entry.
• Add openrouter/free to the curated OpenRouter picker list #62749 [closed] fixes — (+5/-0) — fixes but remains relevant only as a closed duplicate reference: its diff makes the same paired allowlist/manifest addition as feat(openrouter): add free router to model picker #39972. Despite the keep_open review on Add openrouter/free to the curated OpenRouter picker list #62749 confirming technical validity, contributor triage identified it as identical to the earlier feat(openrouter): add free router to model picker #39972, and the closing discussion records closure in favor of that canonical PR.

Duplicates

#39972, #40762, and #62749 implement essentially the same paired OPENROUTER_MODELS plus model-catalog.json addition; #39972 is the earliest open canonical version. #15178 and #44892 overlap in outcome but are broader behavioral changes, not exact duplicates.

Suggested consolidation

Merge #39972: it is the Verify-selected best fix, directly closes #39933, has the smallest current diff, and updates both curated sources required by the picker. Close #40762 as superseded by #39972 despite its keep_open review, because its complete diff implements the same change while its contributor review reports merge conflicts requiring manual salvage; keep #62749 closed as the same duplicate. Do not merge #15178 without resolving the contributor-blocking NVIDIA omission, duplicate-slug contract, and obsolete Telegram target, and keep #44892 closed unless its separate free-only picker policy is pursued independently.

Complex graph

flowchart TD
    classDef open fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#1d4ed8,color:#1e3a8a
    classDef merged fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#15803d,color:#14532d
    classDef closed fill:#e5e7eb,stroke:#6b7280,color:#1f2937
    classDef unverified fill:#f3f4f6,stroke:#9ca3af,color:#374151
    classDef best stroke-width:3px,stroke:#b45309
    classDef target stroke-width:3px,stroke:#4338ca
    I39933(["issue #39933 (open)"])
    I40717(["issue #40717 (open)"])
    P15178["PR #15178 (open)"]
    P44892["PR #44892 (closed)"]
    subgraph Dup39972 ["PRs duplicating each other"]
        P39972["PR #39972 (open)"]
        P40762["PR #40762 (open)"]
        P62749["PR #62749 (closed)"]
    end
    P15178 -.->|partial| I39933
    P39972 -->|best fix| I39933
    P40762 -->|fixes| I39933
    P44892 -.->|partial| I39933
    P62749 -->|fixes| I39933
    P15178 -.->|partial| I40717
    P39972 -->|best fix| I40717
    P40762 -->|fixes| I40717
    P44892 -.->|partial| I40717
    P62749 -->|fixes| I40717
    class I39933 open
    class I40717 open
    class I39933 target
    class P15178 open
    class P39972 open
    class P40762 open
    class P44892 closed
    class P62749 closed
    class P39972 best
    class P39972 best
    click I39933 "https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/39933"
    click I40717 "https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/issues/40717"
    click P15178 "https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/15178"
    click P39972 "https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/39972"
    click P40762 "https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/40762"
    click P44892 "https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/44892"
    click P62749 "https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/pull/62749"

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Graph: solid arrow = fixes / best fix, dashed arrow = partial or unverified (see edge label); boxed group = PRs duplicating each other; amber border = best fix; indigo border = target; gray node = closed or no verify verdict yet (state tag in the node label).

Cross-PR triage: Reviewed 5 pull requests and 2 issues in this complex. Each diff was read against this issue; Assessment working set: 30 kB of PR diffs, 15 kB of issue/PR text, 7 kB of discussion (13 comments), 15 verify verdicts. verdicts reflect diff content, not PR titles. Part of an automated triage batch.