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How to Get API Keys

Step-by-step guides for obtaining API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google

This guide provides detailed instructions for obtaining API keys from each of the major AI providers supported by Promptly.

OpenAI API Keys

To get an OpenAI API key:

  1. Visit OpenAI's platform website
  2. Create an account or log in to your existing account
  3. Navigate to the API Keys section
  4. Click on "Create new secret key"
  5. Give your key a name (e.g., "Promptly")
  6. Copy the key immediately (it won't be shown again)
  7. Add this key to Promptly in Preferences > API Keys

Important: OpenAI requires billing information to be set up before you can use the API. Visit the Billing section to add a payment method.

Anthropic (Claude) API Keys

To get an Anthropic API key:

  1. Visit Anthropic's console
  2. Sign up for an account or log in
  3. Navigate to the "API Keys" section
  4. Click "Create Key"
  5. Give your key a name and set any usage limits
  6. Copy the key and add it to Promptly in Preferences > API Keys

Note: Anthropic offers a free tier with limited usage, but requires a credit card for full access.

Google (Gemini) API Keys

To get a Google AI Studio API key for Gemini models:

  1. Visit Google AI Studio
  2. Sign in with your Google account
  3. Click on "Get API key" or navigate to the API keys section
  4. Create a new API key
  5. Copy the key and add it to Promptly in Preferences > API Keys

Note: Google offers some free credits when you first sign up for Gemini API access.

Managing API Keys

Best practices for API key management:

  • Never share your API keys publicly
  • Set usage limits when possible to prevent unexpected charges
  • Rotate keys periodically for security
  • Consider creating separate keys for different applications

All API providers offer usage dashboards where you can monitor your spending and usage patterns.

API Costs

Be aware that using AI models incurs costs based on:

  • The specific model used (more powerful models cost more)
  • Input and output tokens (roughly characters) processed
  • Features used (like vision capabilities)

Check each provider's pricing page for current rates: