A step-by-step guide to using FREE AI models in Janitor AI with AnonRouter. No credits spent per message and no paid fallback. And when you want chats with no filter, the same setup unlocks uncensored roleplay models too.

WHAT YOU GET

AnonRouter's free router, anonrouter/free, sends every message to a free model at no charge. It picks the best free model for each message, from options like Gemma 4, Mistral Small and Qwen3.

Same account, same key, same proxy URL: when you're ready for more, you can switch to AnonRouter's uncensored roleplay models by changing one line.

Here's how to set it up.

1. CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT

Go to https://anonrouter.ai and sign up with your email address.

Verify your email. Free models only work on verified accounts.

2. TURN ON FREE MODELS

Open https://anonrouter.ai/models/anonrouter/free and click Enable free models.

You only do this once. Without it, free models are refused.

3. GET YOUR API KEY

Open API Keys in the dashboard and create an inference key. Make sure OpenAI-compatible access is enabled.

Copy the key when it appears. It begins with ar_ and is shown only once.

4. OPEN JANITOR'S PROXY SETTINGS

Open a character chat.

Go to API Settings → Proxy → Proxy configurations → Import.

The character must allow third-party proxies.

5. IMPORT THIS CONFIGURATION

Replace the example API key with your own before importing:

{

"name": "AnonRouter Free",

"apiUrl": "https://api.anonrouter.ai/v1/chat/completions",

"apiKey": "ar_REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_API_KEY",

"model": "anonrouter/free"

}

Prefer manual setup? Choose + New and enter:

Name: AnonRouter Free

Proxy URL: https://api.anonrouter.ai/v1/chat/completions

API Key: your AnonRouter key

Model: anonrouter/free

Keep the full URL, including /chat/completions.

6. SAVE AND REFRESH

Save the API settings, refresh Janitor AI, and select AnonRouter Free as your active configuration.

Send a short test message to check that it responds.

WANT ONE MODEL EVERY TIME?

anonrouter/free can pick a different free model for each message. To keep a character's voice consistent, use one free model instead:

google/gemma-4-26b-a4b-it:free

mistralai/mistral-small-3.1-24b-instruct:free

qwen/qwen3-30b-a3b:free

Make a separate configuration for each, with a name you'll recognize. The full free list is at https://anonrouter.ai/models/anonrouter/free

TIPS FOR FREE MODELS

Free models have smaller memory (context) than paid ones. Very long chats or huge character definitions may not fit. If replies fail on a long chat, start a fresh one or trim the character's definition.

Free capacity is shared, so it can be busy at peak times.

Free models are general-purpose models, so some may refuse NSFW scenes. If your character keeps hitting a wall, Switch to an uncensored model (see below).

TROUBLESHOOTING

Configuration saved but nothing changed:

Refresh Janitor AI and select AnonRouter Free.

Free model refused:

Check that your email is verified, then go back to step 2 and click Enable free models.

Unavailable:

Free capacity is busy right now. Wait a moment and regenerate.

Replies keep refusing the scene:

Free models have their own content limits. Try an uncensored model instead.

401:

Check that your API key is complete, has no extra spaces, and has not been revoked.

403 / compat_scope_required:

Enable OpenAI-compatible access for the key in your dashboard.

404:

Check the full endpoint. Do not stop at /v1 or add /chat/completions twice.

Model not found:

Use anonrouter/free, or copy an exact free model ID (ending in :free) from the free list.

429:

Wait before retrying.

No proxy option:

The character creator may have disabled proxies.

PRIVACY

Free models run on Anonymous routes. The model's host never sees your account, email or IP address, and AnonRouter itself keeps no logs of your chats. The host can still read your messages and may use them for training, so keep personal details out of free chats.

Keep API keys out of comments and screenshots.

READY FOR UNCENSORED?

The same key and proxy URL work with AnonRouter's uncensored roleplay models. No new account, no new provider. Make a second configuration and change only the model:

{

"name": "AnonRouter Uncensored",

"apiUrl": "https://api.anonrouter.ai/v1/chat/completions",

"apiKey": "ar_REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_API_KEY",

"model": "mistralai/mistral-uncensored-1.2"

}

Browse every uncensored model here:

https://anonrouter.ai/models?moderation=uncensored

Uncensored models are paid per message, and many cost a fraction of a cent. Many also run on Private routes, where nothing is kept. Check each model's privacy label. Add credits in your dashboard, then switch between AnonRouter Free and AnonRouter Uncensored whenever you like.

You also get Claude, DeepSeek and the rest of the catalog the same way: https://anonrouter.ai/models

MORE HELP

Free models:

https://anonrouter.ai/models/anonrouter/free

Uncensored models:

https://anonrouter.ai/models?moderation=uncensored

Setup page:

https://anonrouter.ai/janitor-ai

Detailed documentation:

https://docs.anonrouter.ai/janitor-ai