OpenRouter AI

Overview

What it does: Integrates any AI model from the OpenRouter.ai library directly into your HubSpot workflows, enabling AI-powered content generation, analysis, and decision-making.

When to use it: When you need AI assistance for content creation, data analysis, lead scoring, email personalization, or any task that benefits from advanced language models like GPT-4, Claude, or specialized AI models.

Business value: Automates complex reasoning tasks, generates personalized content at scale, provides intelligent insights, and enables sophisticated AI-driven workflows without requiring separate AI integrations.

Quick Setup

Prerequisites

OpenRouter.ai API account and API key
API key configured in your Daeda Essentials app settings
Understanding of AI prompting best practices
Clear use case for AI integration in your workflow

Basic Configuration

Set up your OpenRouter.ai API key in the app settings
Add the "OpenRouter AI" action to your workflow
Select an AI model from the available options
Write your prompt with any HubSpot property tokens
Test with a few records to validate responses

Input Fields

Required Fields

AI Model

Type: Dynamic Dropdown (populated from OpenRouter.ai)
Description: The specific AI model to use for processing your prompt
Example: gpt-5, claude-4.5-sonnet, llama-2-70b-chat
Notes: Options include GPT models, Claude, Llama, and many specialized models

Prompt

Type: Text Area
Description: The instruction or question you want the AI to process
Example: Write a personalized follow-up email for {{contact.firstname}} who downloaded our {{recent_content_title}} guide
Notes: Can include HubSpot property tokens and complex instructions

Optional Fields

Provider

Type: Dynamic Dropdown (populated based on selected model)
Description: Specific AI provider to use when multiple providers offer the same model
Default: Default (automatically balances across providers)
Example: OpenAI, Anthropic, Together AI
Notes: Useful for consistency or when you prefer specific providers

Web Search

Type: Boolean Checkbox
Description: Enables the AI to search the web for current information before responding
Default: false
Cost: Additional $0.10 USD per request
Example: true for current events, market data, or recent information
Notes: Provides more accurate and up-to-date responses

Output Fields (Action Outputs)

Response Fields

Response

Type: Text
Description: The AI's response in plain text format
Use: Store in HubSpot properties, use in subsequent workflow actions
Example: Raw text response from the AI model

Response HTML

Type: Text (HTML formatted)
Description: The AI's response formatted as HTML (useful for rich content)
Use: Email templates, rich text properties, web content
Example: Formatted response with headings, lists, and styling

Citations

Type: Text
Description: Source citations when web search is enabled
Use: Track information sources, validate AI responses
Example: wikipedia.org, company-website.com or "No citations"

Common Use Cases

Use Case 1: Personalized Email Generation

Scenario: Generate custom follow-up emails based on contact behavior and properties

Setup:

Model: gpt-4
Prompt: Write a personalized follow-up email for {{contact.firstname}} who works at {{company.name}} in the {{contact.industry}} industry. They recently {{recent_activity}}. Keep it professional and under 150 words.
Web Search: false

Result: Personalized emails for each contact based on their specific context

Use Case 2: Lead Scoring Analysis

Scenario: Use AI to analyze lead quality based on multiple data points

Setup:

Model: claude-3-sonnet
Prompt: Analyze this lead: Company: {{company.name}}, Industry: {{company.industry}}, Size: {{company.numberofemployees}}, Recent Activity: {{recent_page_views}}. Provide a lead score from 1-10 and explain why.
Web Search: false

Result: AI-generated lead scores with reasoning for sales team prioritization

Use Case 3: Content Summarization

Scenario: Summarize long-form content or meeting notes for quick review

Setup:

Model: gpt-4
Prompt: Summarize the following meeting notes in 3 bullet points: {{meeting.notes}}
Web Search: false

Result: Concise summaries for easy consumption and follow-up

Use Case 4: Market Research Integration

Scenario: Get current market insights for deals in specific industries

Setup:

Model: gpt-4
Prompt: What are the current market trends and challenges in the {{company.industry}} industry that might affect a {{deal.dealtype}} deal worth {{deal.amount}}?
Web Search: true

Result: Current market context to inform sales strategies

Advanced Configuration

Model Selection Strategy

Choose models based on your specific needs:

GPT-4: Best for complex reasoning, creative tasks, and general intelligence
Claude: Excellent for analysis, writing, and following detailed instructions
Llama: Cost-effective for simpler tasks and high-volume processing
Specialized Models: Task-specific models for coding, math, or domain expertise

Prompt Engineering Best Practices

Be Specific: Clear, detailed instructions produce better results
Use Examples: Show the AI what you want with examples
Set Constraints: Specify length, format, tone, and style requirements
Include Context: Provide relevant background information
Test Iteratively: Refine prompts based on actual results

Cost Management

Model Costs: Different models have different pricing (check OpenRouter.ai)
Web Search: Adds $0.10 per request but provides current information
Token Usage: Longer prompts and responses cost more
Provider Selection: Some providers may be more cost-effective

API Behavior Details

Request Timeout: Requests timeout after 60 seconds if the AI model doesn't respond
Retry Logic: Failed requests are automatically retried once before failing the workflow
Rate Limiting: OpenRouter.ai handles rate limiting - workflows will wait and retry if limits are hit
Token Limits: Each model has maximum token limits for input + output combined
Response Streaming: Large responses are streamed back to prevent timeouts
Error Propagation: API errors from OpenRouter.ai are passed through to help with debugging

How It Works

Model Selection: Choose from 100+ AI models available on OpenRouter.ai
Prompt Processing: Your prompt is processed with HubSpot property values
API Request: Secure request sent to OpenRouter.ai with your API key
AI Processing: Selected model processes your prompt (with web search if enabled)
Response Formatting: AI response converted to both text and HTML formats
Output Generation: Results available for use in subsequent workflow actions

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Issue: "App account isn't available" error

Symptoms: Workflow fails immediately with account error Solution: Ensure your OpenRouter.ai API key is properly configured in app settings

Issue: AI responses are inconsistent or poor quality

Symptoms: Responses don't match expectations or vary widely Solution: Refine your prompt with more specific instructions and examples

Issue: Responses are cut off or incomplete

Symptoms: AI responses end abruptly or seem truncated Solution:

The model may have hit its token limit - try a model with higher limits or shorter prompts
Some models have built-in response length limits - specify desired length in your prompt
Check if the response is actually complete but formatted unexpectedly
HubSpot properties also have a character limit that you may be hitting

Issue: High costs from AI usage

Symptoms: Unexpected charges from OpenRouter.ai Solution: Monitor usage, choose cost-effective models, and avoid web search when not needed

Last updated: November 23, 2025