Best Free Proxy for Janitor AI: Top Options

What a Janitor AI Proxy Actually Does

A proxy is an API endpoint that replaces Janitor AI's default model with an external large language model. You supply two pieces of information: an API key (your unique password) and an API URL (the specific address of the proxy service). The proxy itself is not a model name—deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free is a model identifier, while https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions is the proxy URL that routes your request to that model[3].

Users look for free proxies for three reasons: to avoid per-message costs, to bypass content restrictions built into Janitor AI's paid models, or to experiment with different writing styles offered by external LLMs. The trade-off is a daily message cap. OpenRouter's free tier gives you 50 messages per day, resetting at 7:00 PM (12:00 AM UTC), and every error response also counts toward that limit[1]. Composite's free tier offers 80 requests per day, or 300 per day in the first week if you use a referral code[4]. If a proxy model fails, Janitor AI's troubleshooting guide recommends switching to the JLLM fallback model temporarily, then waiting 24 hours before retrying the proxy[5]. For users who need higher throughput, adding £7.50 or more in credit to an OpenRouter account raises the daily cap to 1,000 messages[1].

Free proxies suit casual users who send fewer than 50 messages per day and accept the reset schedule. If you regularly hit the cap or need guaranteed uptime, a paid API—such as DeepSeek's own endpoint at £0.23 per million input tokens and £0.90 per million output tokens—removes the daily limit and offers more stable routing[2].

Free Proxy Options That Are Currently Documented

The community guides that rank consistently in search results mention five main free-proxy routes: OpenRouter (DeepSeek and other models), Composite (Synth), DeepSeek's own API, and aggregator services that republish OpenRouter endpoints under different names. Each option trades a daily message cap for zero upfront cost, and none is universally 'best'—your choice depends on whether you prioritise message volume, model variety, or setup simplicity.

OpenRouter is the most widely documented free proxy. Janitor AI's official quickstart guide instructs users to paste https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions as the API URL and deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free as the model name[3]. You receive 50 messages per day, resetting at 7:00 PM (12:00 AM UTC), and error messages count toward that limit[1]. As of 28 September 2026, however, none of the 16 DeepSeek model IDs on OpenRouter ended in :free, meaning the free DeepSeek route through OpenRouter was discontinued[2]. OpenRouter now lists DeepSeek's deepseek/deepseek-v4.1-flash at £0.23 per million input tokens and £0.90 per million output tokens[2]. If you add £7.50 or more in credit, the daily cap rises to 1,000 messages[1]. OpenRouter suits users who want to test multiple models—Claude, GPT, Llama—under one API key, but you must check the live model directory at openrouter.ai/models to confirm which IDs still carry the :free suffix.

DeepSeek's own API (proxy URL https://api.deepseek.com/chat/completions, model name deepseek-flash) is described in HProxy's 2026 guide as the cheapest and most stable route, with no free-tier daily cap[2]. You pay per token—£0.23 per million input tokens and £0.90 per million output tokens—so a typical 500-word reply costs under £0.01[2]. The trade-off is that DeepSeek collects, processes, and stores your Personal Data in the People's Republic of China for as long as you maintain an account[6]. This option suits users who send more than 50 messages per day and prefer predictable per-message costs over a hard daily limit.

Composite offers a Synth model with 80 free requests per day (300 per day in the first week if you apply a referral code), and :free model IDs on Composite share a separate 80-requests-per-day count[4]. Setup instructions live in Composite's proxy-error documentation rather than Janitor AI's official guides. Composite suits users who want a higher initial allowance during the first week and do not mind switching providers once the promotional period ends.

Aggregator services—sometimes labelled 'TokenReply', 'Mega Nova', 'Sophia's Lorebary (Gemini)', or 'Sakura Proxy' in Reddit threads—typically republish OpenRouter or Hugging Face inference endpoints without adding new quota. They do not require separate API keys if they proxy OpenRouter, but they also inherit OpenRouter's rate limits and model availability. These services suit users who prefer a one-click setup link over manual URL entry, but you should verify the upstream provider and model ID in the aggregator's documentation to avoid outdated routes.

If you send fewer than 50 messages per day and want the widest model choice, start with OpenRouter and confirm live :free model IDs in the directory. If you regularly exceed 50 messages or need guaranteed uptime, use DeepSeek's own API and budget £0.01–£0.02 per conversation. If you prefer a higher promotional allowance for the first week, try Composite. Do not assume any free option will remain free indefinitely—OpenRouter removed DeepSeek's :free suffix in September 2026[2]—so bookmark the provider's model directory and check it each time a 404 error appears.

Setup Steps That Match the Current Janitor AI Interface

Janitor AI's interface has changed over time, so older community guides may reference menu paths that no longer exist. The current flow is simpler: open any bot conversation, look for the Proxy button in the top right of the chat window, click it, then paste your API URL and API key into the fields that appear[3]. If the provider requires a model name—OpenRouter and DeepSeek do—enter it exactly as shown in the provider's current documentation, including any :free suffix[3]. Save the settings, then refresh your browser page; skipping the refresh step is the most common cause of silent failures[3].

Here is the exact sequence. First, copy the proxy URL from your provider's documentation—do not click it, paste it directly into the API URL field[3]. For OpenRouter, the URL is https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions[3]; for DeepSeek's own API, use https://api.deepseek.com/chat/completions[2]. Second, paste your API key into the key field. Third, if a model-name field appears, check the provider's live model list: OpenRouter publishes its directory at openrouter.ai/models, and DeepSeek lists current identifiers in its API documentation at platform.deepseek.com/api-docs. As of 28 September 2026, OpenRouter removed the :free suffix from all DeepSeek models, so deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free no longer works[2]. If you see a model list in the provider's documentation, pick the identifier that matches your budget—:free models have daily caps, paid models charge per token[2]. Fourth, click save, then refresh the browser page[3].

A conditional example: if OpenRouter's directory shows anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet:free and you want Claude instead of DeepSeek, paste that exact string into the model field. If the directory shows no :free suffix next to a model name, that model is paid and will deduct credit from your account balance. Do not guess model names—a single character error produces a 404 response, and that error message counts toward your daily limit[1].

If the Proxy button does not appear in the top right, clear your browser cache and log out, then log back in. If you still see an older menu layout, check Janitor AI's official documentation at janitorai.com for the current interface guide. The setup flow itself takes under two minutes once you have the correct URL, key, and model name in front of you; most troubleshooting time goes into verifying that the model ID still exists and still carries a free tier.

Common Setup Failures and How to Fix Them

Four failure patterns account for most proxy errors: a missing or mistyped API key, a model name that no longer exists, provider rate limits, and a proxy URL that has been discontinued. Each produces a different symptom, and each has a concrete check you can perform in under a minute.

401 or 403 errors mean the provider rejected your API key. Re-copy the key from your provider dashboard without trailing spaces—paste it into a plain-text editor first to confirm no invisible characters snuck in. If you copied the key correctly, check that you created the key in the same account where you added credit; OpenRouter and DeepSeek issue separate keys for free-tier and paid accounts. Log into the provider's dashboard, navigate to the API-keys section, and confirm the key status shows 'active'. If the key was revoked or expired, generate a new one and paste it into Janitor AI's proxy settings, then refresh the browser page[3].

404 errors signal a model-name mismatch. Open the provider's live model directory—openrouter.ai/models for OpenRouter, platform.deepseek.com/api-docs for DeepSeek—and confirm the exact identifier, including any :free suffix. As of 28 September 2026, OpenRouter removed the :free suffix from all DeepSeek models, so deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free no longer works and will return a 404[2]. Copy the current model ID character-for-character from the directory, paste it into Janitor AI's model field, save, and refresh. Do not rely on a guide older than the provider's last model update.

429 rate-limit errors or an endless queue mean you exhausted your daily message cap. OpenRouter's free tier gives 50 messages per day, resetting at 7:00 PM (12:00 AM UTC), and error messages count toward that limit[1]. Composite's free tier offers 80 requests per day[4]. Check your provider's account dashboard for current usage; if you hit the cap, either wait until the reset time or add £7.50 or more in credit to raise the OpenRouter cap to 1,000 messages per day[1]. If the proxy model fails silently and Janitor AI switches to the JLLM fallback, manually select the proxy model in chat settings; if it fails again, wait 24 hours and retry[5].

500, 502, or 504 server errors indicate the proxy service is temporarily unavailable. Wait 10–15 minutes and try again. If the error persists, check the provider's status page or community forum for outage announcements. If no status page exists, switch to an alternative proxy—DeepSeek's own API at https://api.deepseek.com/chat/completions is described as more stable than aggregator routes[2]—and return to the original provider after 24 hours.

If you see a proxy URL in an older guide—particularly one that includes 'TokenReply', 'Mega Nova', or other aggregator names—verify the endpoint still responds by pasting it into a browser address bar; a valid API URL returns a JSON error message, not a 404 page. OpenRouter discontinued its free DeepSeek route in September 2026[2], so any guide recommending deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free is outdated. Bookmark your provider's model directory and check it each time a 404 appears, rather than assuming the same model ID will work indefinitely.

What 'Free' Actually Means: Rate Limits, Queues, and Downtime

Free proxies impose daily message caps, queue delays, and occasional outages that paid tiers avoid. OpenRouter's free option gives you 50 messages per day, resetting at 7:00 PM (12:00 AM UTC), and error messages count toward that limit[1]. Composite offers 80 free requests per day—300 per day in the first week if you apply a referral code—and :free model IDs on Composite share a separate 80-requests-per-day count[4]. DeepSeek's own API has no free-tier daily cap but charges £0.23 per million input tokens and £0.90 per million output tokens[2]. If you send 60 messages in a day on OpenRouter's free tier, the 51st message triggers a 429 rate-limit error, and you must wait until the reset or add £7.50 or more in credit to raise the cap to 1,000 messages[1].

Four failure behaviours appear repeatedly. Silent queueing happens when the provider places your request behind hundreds of other free-tier users; you see no error, but the reply takes five minutes instead of ten seconds. OpenRouter and aggregator services that republish OpenRouter endpoints exhibit this behaviour during peak hours. Model fallback occurs when Janitor AI detects a proxy failure and switches to the JLLM model automatically; if that works, wait 24 hours before retrying the proxy[5]. Key expiration produces a 401 or 403 error if the provider revokes free-tier keys after a period of inactivity or if you exceed usage terms; check the provider's dashboard to confirm the key status shows 'active'. Provider shutdowns are permanent: as of 28 September 2026, OpenRouter removed the :free suffix from all DeepSeek models, meaning any guide recommending deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free is outdated[2].

For each failure, check the primary source. OpenRouter publishes live model availability at openrouter.ai/models; if a model ID lacks a :free suffix, that route is now paid. DeepSeek lists current identifiers and pricing at platform.deepseek.com/api-docs. Composite documents error codes and daily limits in its proxy-error guide[4]. If a provider has no public status page or announcement channel, treat it as unstable infrastructure and keep a backup endpoint ready—DeepSeek's own API is described as the most stable route, with no free-tier daily cap[2].

Treat free proxies as temporary infrastructure. Bookmark your provider's model directory and check it each time a 404 appears, rather than assuming the same model ID will work indefinitely.

Safety and Privacy Considerations for Proxy Use

When you configure a proxy for Janitor AI, the proxy provider sees every prompt you send and every response the AI generates—it acts as a bridge between Janitor AI and the language model. Free proxy services may log this traffic, change their terms without notice, or store conversation data for an indefinite period. DeepSeek's privacy policy states that the company collects, processes, and stores users' Personal Data in the People's Republic of China and retains account data, input data, and payment data for as long as the account exists[6]. If you send real names, addresses, financial details, or other personal information through a free proxy, assume the provider can read and retain it. Avoid pasting sensitive data into chat prompts—use placeholder text instead ('Person A', 'Company X') if you need to test a scenario that involves private details.

Check the provider's privacy policy or terms page before you paste your API key. OpenRouter publishes its terms at openrouter.ai/terms, and DeepSeek's privacy policy is available at platform.deepseek.com/privacy. Look for three details: where the company stores data (jurisdiction matters for legal requests), how long it retains logs, and whether it shares data with third parties. If a provider has no public privacy policy or the policy does not specify data retention, treat every message as permanently logged. DeepSeek's policy notes that processing rules for downstream applications built by developers on its open platform are not covered by its own policy, and the developer is instead the controller responsible for disclosing data-protection practices[6]. If you use an aggregator like OpenRouter, check both the aggregator's terms and the underlying model provider's policy—data passes through both systems.

Free proxies change terms more frequently than paid services. OpenRouter removed the :free suffix from all DeepSeek models on 28 September 2026, converting a previously free route to a paid one without advance notice to end users[2]. If you rely on a free tier for daily use, bookmark the provider's model directory and check it weekly; a sudden policy shift can lock you out mid-conversation or start charging your account without a warning email. For privacy-sensitive workflows, consider Tor alternatives or local models that do not send prompts to an external server. If you must use a cloud proxy, rotate placeholder names and avoid patterns that link conversations to your real identity.

How to Verify a Proxy Is Still Working Before You Commit

Model names and endpoints change frequently—sometimes without warning—so any article, including this one, can become outdated between publication and the moment you read it. Before you paste an API key and model ID into Janitor AI, run a three-step verification routine to confirm the proxy still works: check the provider's official page for the current model name, look for recent community reports, and send a test message to confirm the response matches the expected model behaviour.

Start with the provider's live model directory. For OpenRouter, visit openrouter.ai/models and search for the model you plan to use; if the identifier no longer includes a :free suffix, that route is now paid[2]. DeepSeek lists current model names and pricing at platform.deepseek.com/api-docs. Copy the exact identifier character-for-character—do not rely on a guide's copy-paste block if the guide is older than the provider's last update. As of 28 September 2026, OpenRouter removed the :free suffix from all DeepSeek models, so deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free returns a 404 error[2]. If you see a model name in an older tutorial, cross-reference it with the provider's directory before you save it in Janitor AI's proxy settings.

Next, check the provider's announcement channel or status page for recent outages, rate-limit changes, or discontinued models. OpenRouter posts updates at openrouter.ai/status; Composite publishes error documentation in its blog[4]. If the provider has no public status page, search Reddit or Discord for the provider's name plus 'Janitor AI' and sort by recent posts—community reports surface breaking changes faster than official documentation. If you see multiple users reporting 404 or 429 errors in the past 48 hours, assume the model or free tier has changed.

Finally, send a test message in Janitor AI after you save the proxy settings. Refresh the browser page[3], open a new chat, and type a simple prompt like 'Hello'. If the reply arrives in under ten seconds and the response style matches the model's documented behaviour—DeepSeek tends toward concise, factual answers—the proxy works. If you see a 404 error, the model name is wrong; re-check the provider's directory. If you see a 429 error immediately, you already exhausted your daily cap[1]. If the message queues for more than two minutes, the provider is overloaded or the endpoint is down; wait 15 minutes and retry, or switch to an alternative proxy. Treat the provider's primary source—its model directory and official documentation—as the authoritative check, not a third-party guide or this article.

Who Each Option Suits

If you send fewer than 50 messages a day and want zero setup cost

Choose OpenRouter's free tier, because it gives you 50 messages per day with no payment details required, resetting at 7:00 PM UK time[1]. The catch is that error messages count toward that limit, so a single failed request during peak hours can eat into your daily allowance. This option suits casual roleplay sessions in Bristol where you check in once or twice a day rather than running long back-and-forth conversations.

If you need more daily headroom and can apply a referral code

Choose Composite, because it offers 80 free requests per day—or 300 per day in the first week with a referral code—and keeps :free model IDs on a separate 80-requests-per-day count[4]. The separate counters mean you can switch between models without immediately exhausting your total allowance. This works for users who send several messages across multiple chats each day but still want to avoid paying.

If you want stability over a hard daily cap and can pay per token

Choose DeepSeek's own API at https://api.deepseek.com/chat/completions, because it has no free-tier daily cap and is described as more stable than aggregator routes[2]. You pay £0.23 per million input tokens and £0.90 per million output tokens, which means light daily use costs pennies rather than pounds[2]. This suits people in Bristol who use Janitor AI regularly and are tired of hitting 429 errors mid-conversation.

If you need a higher ceiling and are willing to add credit

Choose OpenRouter with £7.50 or more in credit, because that raises your cap from 50 to 1,000 messages per day[1]. The paid tier removes the daily reset anxiety while keeping the same proxy setup you already know. This fits users who occasionally binge long chats on weekends and don't want to wait until 7:00 PM for the counter to reset.

If you handle private or sensitive scenarios

Choose none of the free cloud proxies, because every proxy provider sees your prompts and responses, and DeepSeek stores data in the People's Republic of China for as long as the account exists[6]. Use placeholder text like 'Person A' or 'Company X' if you must test a scenario involving real names or addresses. For genuinely private workflows, consider local models that never send prompts to an external server.

Bottom Line: What to Choose

For most users, start with OpenRouter’s free tier: 50 messages per day, no payment details, resets at 7:00 PM UK time[1]. It’s the lowest-friction option if you chat casually and can tolerate the daily cap.

Choose Composite instead when you need more headroom—80 free requests per day, or 300 in the first week with a referral code—and want separate counters for different models[4]. Choose DeepSeek’s own API if you’re tired of 429 errors and can pay per token: no free-tier cap, but you’ll spend pennies for light use[2].

Avoid any guide that still lists deepseek/deepseek-chat-v3-0324:free; that route died on 28 September 2026[2]. Before committing, open the provider’s live model directory and confirm the exact identifier still exists. If you need a privacy-first alternative, see Top Tor Alternatives: What to Use Instead.