How to Use 627+ AI Models in Cursor IDE with Crazyrouter (2026 Guide)

--- title: How to Use 627+ AI Models in Cursor IDE with Crazyrouter (2026 Guide) published: true tags: 'ai, cursor, coding, tutorial' id: 3345782 date: '2026-03-13T01:39:03Z' --- Cursor IDE is powerful, but it only supports a few built-in models. Here's how to unlock 627+ models — including GPT-5, Claude Opus 4.6, DeepSeek R1, Gemini 3, and more — through Crazyrouter. ## Why Use Crazyrouter with Cursor? - Access models Cursor doesn't natively support (DeepSeek, Qwen3, Llama 4, Grok 4) - Save money — Crazyrouter pricing is often lower than direct API pricing - Switch between models without changing IDE settings - One API key for everything ## Setup (3 Minutes) ### Step 1: Get a Crazyrouter API Key 1. Go to [crazyrouter.com](https://crazyrouter.com?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dev_community) 2. Sign up — you get $0.20 free credit immediately 3. Go to crazyrouter.com/token to generate your API key ### Step 2: Configure Cursor 1. Open Cursor → Settings (⌘/Ctrl + ,) 2. Go to **Models** section 3. Click **Add Model** or **OpenAI API Key** 4. Set: - **API Key**: Your Crazyrouter key - **Base URL**: `https://crazyrouter.com/v1` 5. Add model names you want to use: - `gpt-5` - `claude-sonnet-4-6` - `deepseek-v3.2` - `gemini-2.5-pro` - `llama-4-maverick` ### Step 3: Use Any Model In the Cursor chat or inline edit, select your model from the dropdown. All 627+ models are available. ## Best Models for Coding in Cursor | Task | Recommended Model | Why | |------|-------------------|-----| | General coding | `gpt-5` | Best all-around | | Complex refactoring | `claude-opus-4-6` | Deep reasoning | | Quick fixes | `gpt-5-mini` | Fast and cheap | | Code review | `claude-sonnet-4-6` | Thorough analysis | | Budget coding | `deepseek-v3.2` | 90% quality, 30% cost | | Large context | `gemini-2.5-pro` | 1M token context | ## Cost Comparison (Per 1M Tokens) | Model | Direct Price | Via Crazyrouter | |-------|-------------|----------------| | GPT-5 | $1.25 / $10.00 | Lower | | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | $3.00 / $15.00 | Lower | | DeepSeek V3.2 | $0.27 / $1.10 | Lower | | Gemini 2.5 Pro | $1.25 / $10.00 | Lower | Check exact prices at [crazyrouter.com/pricing](https://crazyrouter.com/pricing?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dev_community). ## Pro Tips **1. Use environment variables (zero-config)** ```bash export OPENAI_API_KEY=your-crazyrouter-key export OPENAI_BASE_URL=https://crazyrouter.com/v1 ``` Many tools (including Cursor) auto-detect these. **2. Mix models per task** Use `gpt-5-mini` for autocomplete (cheap, fast) and `claude-opus-4-6` for complex refactoring (thorough, smart). **3. Try DeepSeek for budget coding** DeepSeek V3.2 is ~80% cheaper than GPT-5 and handles most coding tasks well. Great for prototyping. ## Also Works With This same setup works with: - **VS Code** + Continue extension - **Windsurf** IDE - **Claude Code** CLI (use Anthropic base URL: `https://crazyrouter.com`) - **Codex CLI** (set `OPENAI_BASE_URL`) - **Aider** (set `OPENAI_API_BASE`) ## Troubleshooting **"Model not found" error**: Check the exact model name at crazyrouter.com/pricing. Names are case-sensitive. **Slow responses**: Try a different model. Some smaller models (gpt-5-mini, deepseek-v3.2) respond faster. **Rate limits**: Crazyrouter handles rate limiting across providers. If you hit limits, it auto-routes to backup providers. --- *Get started: [crazyrouter.com](https://crazyrouter.com?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=dev_community) — $0.20 free credit on signup.*