As someone who uses AI chatbots like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Grok daily for various tasks, I’m curious about exploring other options like OpenRouter. However, I’m torn between the benefits of ChatGPT’s memory and custom instruction features versus OpenRouter’s potential advantages. I’m not a fan of ChatGPT’s internal thinking feature, as I prefer to see the thought process behind the model’s answers. OpenRouter seems appealing, but I’m unsure if it can replace ChatGPT’s features. Would the differences in system prompts between ChatGPT’s app and OpenRouter’s raw API calls make a significant impact on my experience? And, more importantly, would OpenRouter cost me more in the long run? With the recent release of GPT-5, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of each option carefully.