Ann NgAnn Ng
3 min read

Use inkling-small via OpenRouter API on TypingMind

Inkling Small is an open-weight multimodal mixture-of-experts model from Thinking Machines Lab, with 12B active parameters out of 276B total. It is positioned as the smaller, more efficient member of...

Thinking Machines: Inkling Small Overview

Full NameThinking Machines: Inkling Small
ProviderThinking Machines
Model IDthinkingmachines/inkling-small
Release DateJul 30, 2026
Context Window524,288 tokens
Pricing /1M tokens$0 for input
$0.001 for output
Supported Input Typestext, image, audio
Supported Parametersfrequency_penaltyinclude_reasoninglogit_biaslogprobsmax_tokensmin_ppresence_penaltyreasoningreasoning_effortrepetition_penaltyseedstopstructured_outputstemperaturetool_choicetoolstop_ktop_logprobstop_p

Complete Setup Guide

1

Create OpenRouter Account

  1. Visit openrouter.ai
  2. Click "Sign In" and create an account (free)
  3. Verify your email address
  4. You'll receive $1 in free credits to test models
2

Get Your OpenRouter API Key

  1. Log in to OpenRouter dashboard
  2. Go to "API Keys" section in the menu
  3. Click "Create API Key"
  4. Give it a name (e.g., "TypingMind")
  5. Copy your API key (starts with "sk-or-v1-...")
OpenRouter API Keys
3

Add Credits to OpenRouter (Optional)

  1. Go to "Credits" in OpenRouter dashboard
  2. Click "Add Credits"
  3. Choose amount ($5 minimum, $20 recommended for testing)
  4. Complete payment (credit card or crypto)
  5. Credits never expire!
4

Configure TypingMind with OpenRouter API Key

Method 1: Direct Import (Recommended)

  1. Open TypingMind in your browser
  2. Click the "Settings" icon (gear symbol)
  3. Navigate to "Manage Models" section
  4. Click "Add Custom Model"
  5. Select "Import OpenRouter" from the options
  6. Enter your OpenRouter API key from Step 1
  7. Click "Check API Key" to verify the connection
  8. Choose which models you want to add from the list (you can add multiple at once)
  9. Click "Import Models" to complete the setup
The best frontend AI chat for OpenRouter API Key

Method 2: Manual Custom Model Setup

  1. Open TypingMind in your browser
  2. Click the "Settings" icon (gear symbol)
  3. Navigate to "Models" section
  4. Click "Add Custom Model"
  5. Fill in the model information:
    Name: thinkingmachines/inkling-small via OpenRouter (or your preferred name)
    Endpoint: https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions
    Model ID: thinkingmachines/inkling-small
    Context Length: Enter the model's context window (e.g., 524288 for thinkingmachines/inkling-small)
    OpenRouter Endpoint URL input fieldthinkingmachines/inkling-smallhttps://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completionsthinkingmachines/inkling-small via OpenRouterhttps://www.typingmind.com/model-logo.webp524288
  6. Add custom headers by clicking "Add Custom Headers" in the Advanced Settings section:
    Authorization: Bearer <OPENROUTER_API_KEY>:
    X-Title: typingmind.com
    HTTP-Referer: https://www.typingmind.com
  7. Enable "Support Plugins (via OpenAI Functions)" if the model supports the "functions" or "tool_calls" parameter, or enable "Support OpenAI Vision" if the model supports vision.
  8. Click "Test" to verify the configuration
  9. If you see "Nice, the endpoint is working!", click "Add Model"
5

Start chatting with thinkingmachines/inkling-small

Now you can start chatting with the thinkingmachines/inkling-small model via OpenRouter on TypingMind:

  • Select your preferred thinkingmachines/inkling-small model from the model dropdown menu
  • Start typing your message in the chat input
  • Enjoy faster responses and better features than the official interface
  • Switch between different AI models as needed
The best frontend AI chat for thinkingmachines/inkling-small via OpenRouter API KeyThe best frontend AI chat for thinkingmachines/inkling-small via OpenRouter API Keythinkingmachines/inkling-smallThe best frontend AI chat for thinkingmachines/inkling-small via OpenRouter API Key

Pro tips for better results:

Why TypingMind + OpenRouter?

  • Best-in-class UI: TypingMind's interface is far superior to standard chat UIs
  • Model flexibility: Switch between Thinking Machines: Inkling Small and 200+ models instantly
  • Cost control: Pay only for what you use through OpenRouter
  • One-time purchase: Buy TypingMind once, use forever with any OpenRouter model
  • Data privacy: Your conversations stored locally, not on external servers

Try TypingMind for free now!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a subscription to use Thinking Machines: Inkling Small?

No! Through OpenRouter, you pay only for what you use with no monthly subscription. Add credits to your OpenRouter account and they never expire. TypingMind is also a one-time purchase, not a subscription.

How much will it cost to use Thinking Machines: Inkling Small?

It costs 0.00045 for input and 0.0012 for output via OpenRouter. A typical conversation might cost $0.01-0.10 depending on length. Start with $5-10 in credits to test.

Can I use other models besides Thinking Machines: Inkling Small?

Yes! With OpenRouter + TypingMind, you get access to 200+ models including GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, Llama, Mistral, and many more. Switch between them instantly in TypingMind.

Is my data private and secure?

Yes! TypingMind stores conversations locally (web version in browser, desktop version on your device). OpenRouter handles API calls securely and doesn't train on your data. Check each provider's data policy for specifics.

Can I use Thinking Machines: Inkling Small for commercial projects?

Yes! Check Thinking Machines's terms of service for specific commercial use policies. OpenRouter and TypingMind both support commercial use.

What if Thinking Machines: Inkling Small is unavailable?

OpenRouter allows you to configure fallback models. If Thinking Machines: Inkling Small is down, it can automatically route to your backup choice. You can also manually switch models in TypingMind anytime.

How do I cancel or get a refund?

OpenRouter: No subscriptions to cancel. Unused credits remain in your account forever.