Getting Started

A quick setup guide to get started with ZDR Chat.

Welcome to ZDR Chat! Getting started takes less than a minute.

Step 1: Get an OpenRouter API Key

  1. Go to OpenRouter.ai
  2. Create an account (if you don’t have one)
  3. Generate an API key
  4. Copy the key to your clipboard

Tip: If you want zero data retention, visit OpenRouter Privacy Settings and enable ZDR at the account level + guardrail.

Step 2: Open ZDR Chat

Go to app.zdr.chat. There’s no sign-up, no account creation — just an input field waiting for your API key.

Step 3: Paste Your Key

Paste your OpenRouter API key into the input field. The key stays in your browser — it’s never sent anywhere except directly to OpenRouter when you make a request.

Step 4: Pick Your First Model

After entering your key, you’ll see the model picker. Browse the categories:

  • Smartest — Top-tier reasoning models
  • Fastest — Quick response models for everyday use
  • Free — Models available at no cost
  • Code — Specialized coding models
  • Vision — Models that can analyze images

Click any model to select it. You can switch models at any time, even mid-conversation.

Step 5: Start Chatting

Type your message and press Enter. Your conversation will be saved in your browser’s IndexedDB. You can:

  • Create multiple conversations (shown in the sidebar)
  • Search through your conversation history
  • Switch between conversations
  • Export or delete conversations

What’s Next?

  • Explore the Features documentation to learn about themes, density modes, and more
  • Read about Privacy & Security to understand how your data is handled
  • Check the FAQ for common questions