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[ARTICLE · art-67438] src=help.trmnl.com ↗ pub= topic=ai-tools verified=true sentiment=↑ positive

AI Agent – TRMNL

TRMNL has launched a public beta of an AI Agent that lets users build plugins by typing natural-language prompts, such as "build me a plugin showing populations around the world." The agent requires an OpenRouter API key (or optionally an Anthropic Claude API key) and a free Tavily API key for web search, with plugin creation costing an average of $1-3 per plugin. The feature supports models including Gemini, Codex, Claude Sonnet, Kimi, and open-source models like Llama, but published plugins are not yet available for public submission.

read3 min views1 publishedJul 21, 2026
AI Agent – TRMNL
Image: source

Writing code is cool, but wouldn't it be cooler to type "build me a plugin showing populations around the world" and it Just Worked?

Now you can.

Requirements #

This feature is in public beta.

Agent currently requires an API Key from OpenRouter. You can load credits on their billing portal.

Alternatively, if you have a Claude API account with higher rate limits you can buy credits directly and use an

Anthropic.

API Key Optionally, a free Tavily API key can give your agent access to web search and web page fetching, enhancing your agents capabilities.

In the near future you'll be able to purchase credits directly from TRMNL.

Quickstart #

Visit your

TRMNL AccountToggle Agent on the left side, click Save Click the "Configure model, keys & usage" to open up the settings page.

Add the API keys mentioned in the requirements section and click Save

Visit

Plugins > Private Plugins > Newand click SaveClick Edit Markup, then click the Agent tab Ask Agent to build whatever you want or to guide you would like to understand more of the TRMNL framework.

How it works #

TRMNL has developed a comprehensive system prompt written in plain English, which describe our platform's capabilities and design patterns in depth.

Whenever you interface with the Agent inside our private plugin interface, the agent has access to this context, which you may even ask it about.

In addition, the agent has been given access to a range of tools, including markup editing, settings updates, data refreshing, internet search, and a list of API endpoints to name a few. This empowers and grounds the agent in the "real world" to add value to your experience.

MCP Server (Advanced) #

To develop TRMNL plugins within your local development environment, create an MCP API Key instead from your private plugin's settings page, located on the right side after clicking Save.

Provide this key to your desktop agent for a more customizable experience with your local tooling.

Frequently Asked Questions #

Which models does this feature support?

Gemini, Codex, Claude Sonnet, Kimi, and even OSS models (e.g. Llama). Set a preferred model from your Account > Agent configuration.

How much does it cost to build a plugin?

We're seeing an average of $1-3 per plugin.

For example, plugin can be created with a single sentence prompt: `make a daily deal plugin for meh.com`

. After thinking and developing for a couple minutes, Agent required us to provide a free Meh.com API Key, then we requested that the daily deal item's image be included. Total cost: $2.20 USD.

Can I publish plugins with this feature?

Not currently. Our team reviews several plugin submissions per day and we need to scale internal tools before we can handle the inevitable Agent-driven volume bump.

Can I use other llm models (including free ones)?

Yes, even though Claude Sonnet 4.6 was used in developing this Agent, other state-of-the-art models like Gemeni 3.1 Pro are excellent replacements. Feel free to experiment with any OpenRouter model ID. The free models on OpenRouter tend to be less capable and slower.

Troubleshooting #

Agent isn't perfect. Send us a live chat or email [email protected] if (when) you discover bugs or quirks.

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