Advanced
Bring your own OpenRouter key and control dictation costs
Already on OpenRouter? Dictor desktop lets you pay OpenRouter directly for supported AI models instead of relying only on a bundled dictation subscription.
Usage-based AI
Over 80% less in a 5-hour scenario
Example based on five hours of monthly dictation using Dictor’s current primary OpenRouter transcription model at $0.36/hour. Actual OpenRouter bills vary by model, audio length, fees, and future pricing.
OpenRouter BYOK example
About $1.80
Typical voice subscription
$12-$15/mo
A practical BYOK savings example
OpenRouter prices are usage-based. With Dictor desktop BYOK, your OpenRouter account is billed directly and Dictor adds no AI usage markup on this path. The examples below use public pricing checked on June 22, 2026.
Primary dictation model
5 hours/month at $0.36/hour
About $1.80
More than 80% below a $12-$15 monthly voice subscription in this scenario.
Heavier desktop dictation
20 hours/month at $0.36/hour
About $7.20
Still usage-based and below many fixed monthly voice plans, before account-level fees.
Short correction commands
OpenAI GPT-5.4 Mini text requests
$0.75 in / $4.50 out per 1M tokens
Small rewrites and cleanup commands can cost a fraction of a cent.
How it works
- Download Dictor for macOS or Windows and create your account.
- Open Settings → Bring your own key and paste an OpenRouter API key.
- Toggle on “Use my OpenRouter key”. Dictation and commands then use your key.
API keys are entered only in the Dictor desktop app (macOS and Windows), stored in your system keychain, and never uploaded to our servers. Sign in with your Dictor account so we can keep you updated by email.
Hosted vs. your own key
Most people should use Dictor’s hosted AI with a simple subscription — no API keys, no model setup. Bring your own key is for developers and power users who already pay OpenRouter and want the same Dictor experience at their own cost.