MiniMax: MiniMax M3 — AI Model
Verifiedopenrouter/minimax-minimax-m3 Overview
MiniMax-M3 is a multimodal foundation model from MiniMax. It supports text, image, and video inputs with text output, a 1M-token context window, and is suited for long-horizon agentic work, coding, and tool use. It is built on MiniMax Sparse Attention (MSA), which replaces full attention with KV-block selection to cut per-token compute at long context — roughly 1/20 the cost of the previous generation at 1M tokens, with substantially faster prefill and decode while retaining quality across most tasks. Trained as a native multimodal model on interleaved data and tuned for multi-turn, production-like collaboration via an interactive user-simulator framework, the model is oriented toward sustained, multi-step tasks rather than single-turn execution.
Quick Start
Integrate MiniMax: MiniMax M3 with 3 lines of code. See the config generator for Claude Code, Cursor, and more.
Other Free Models from OpenRouter
Rate Limits & Constraints
OpenRouter Platform Limitations
- 200 RPD on free tier (1,000 with $10 lifetime credit)
- Free models may change without notice
- Some free models have shorter context windows than paid variants
Features & Use Cases
Best For
Modality Support
OpenRouter Highlights
- 35+ permanently free models
- OpenAI-compatible endpoint
- 200 RPD free, 1,000 RPD with $10 lifetime credit
- One key for 300+ models
How to Get a Free OpenRouter API Key
Follow these steps to get your free API key for MiniMax: MiniMax M3. No credit card required — just sign up and start using the API.
- Sign up at openrouter.ai No credit card. $10 lifetime top-up for 5× more rate limits.
- Go to Keys page
- Create a new API key
- Find free models Look for :free suffix in model name, or browse our list below.
- Configure OpenAI client Base URL: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
Playground — Test MiniMax: MiniMax M3
Test MiniMax: MiniMax M3 directly in your browser. Your API key is sent directly to OpenRouter — never stored.
🔒 Your key is never stored — sent directly to the model provider via our server proxy.
Ready to chat with MiniMax: MiniMax M3.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an API key for MiniMax: MiniMax M3?
Sign up at OpenRouter to get your API key. No credit card is required — just an email sign-up. Once you have the key, use the code snippets in the Quick Start section above.
Is MiniMax: MiniMax M3 really free?
MiniMax: MiniMax M3 is no longer free (was free until Jun 4, 2026). Browse our free models list for alternatives.
What are MiniMax: MiniMax M3's rate limits?
See provider page Context window: 1.0M. Max output: 512K. No credit card required.
What are the best free alternatives to MiniMax: MiniMax M3?
Popular free alternatives include inclusionAI: Ring-2.6-1T, Owl Alpha, NVIDIA: Nemotron 3 Nano Omni (free). You can also browse all 163+ free models on our site.
More questions? See our full FAQ →