What is BYOK in AI?
BYOK means "bring your own key". Instead of paying an AI app for its built-in access to GPT, Claude or Gemini, you paste an API key from your own provider account. The app sends requests with your key, the provider bills you directly at its API price, and you can switch models or apps without starting another subscription.
How it works
- Create an API key with a provider such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google AI Studio or OpenRouter, and add credits or a payment method.
- Paste the key into the settings of an app that supports BYOK.
- The app calls the provider with your key. Usage shows up on your provider dashboard, not on the app's bill.
BYOK compared with a bundled subscription
| BYOK app | App with bundled AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you pay for AI | The provider, per token | The app, usually monthly |
| Markup | None on model usage | Built into the plan |
| Models | Any model your key can access | The ones the app picked |
| Limits | Your provider's rate limits and your budget | The app's message caps |
| Data | Under your provider account's terms | Under the app's terms and its provider's |
| Setup | Create a key once | None |
Does it cost less?
Usually, if you use AI a few times a day: you pay only for tokens used, and many BYOK apps are free or a one-time purchase. Heavy daily use of the largest models can add up to more than a flat plan. Cheaper models (Gemini Flash, DeepSeek, GPT mini models) or local models through Ollama keep costs low. Whatever you choose, set a monthly limit in your provider dashboard.
Keeping your key safe
- Prefer apps that keep the key on your device. Desktop apps, browser extensions and many web apps store it locally and call the provider directly. If an app stores keys on its servers, it should say how they are encrypted.
- One key per app. Most providers let you create several keys; name each after the app so you can revoke one without breaking the others.
- Set spending limits. OpenAI, Anthropic and OpenRouter all let you cap monthly or per-key spend.
- Never paste a key into a site you don't trust, and revoke keys you no longer use.
Where to get an API key
Step-by-step guides: Claude, OpenAI, Gemini, DeepSeek, OpenRouter, and what is free.
- OpenAI (ChatGPT)Create a key · 85 apps
- Claude (Anthropic)Create a key · 64 apps
- Google GeminiCreate a key · 62 apps
- OpenRouterCreate a key · 31 apps
- MistralCreate a key · 29 apps
- OllamaDownload · 29 apps
- DeepSeekCreate a key · 23 apps
- xAI (Grok)Create a key · 18 apps
- Azure OpenAICreate a key · 16 apps
- GroqCreate a key · 16 apps
- PerplexityCreate a key · 7 apps
- Hugging FaceCreate a key · 4 apps
- CerebrasCreate a key · 3 apps
- CohereCreate a key · 3 apps
- Together AICreate a key · 3 apps
Not to be confused with BYOK encryption
In cloud security, BYOK also means bringing your own encryption key to a service such as AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault or Google Cloud KMS, so the provider encrypts your data with a key you control. That is a different practice. On this site, BYOK always means using your own AI provider API key in an app.
Questions
What does BYOK mean in AI?
BYOK stands for "bring your own key". An AI app that supports BYOK lets you paste an API key from your own account with a model provider such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or OpenRouter. The app sends your requests with that key, so the provider bills you directly for usage.
Can I use my ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro subscription as an API key?
No. ChatGPT and Claude subscriptions cover the chat apps only. API keys come from the developer platforms (platform.openai.com, the Claude Console) and are billed per token, separately from any subscription.
Is BYOK cheaper than a subscription?
For light or occasional use it usually is: you pay only for the tokens you use, often a few cents to a few dollars a month. Heavy daily use of the largest models can cost more than a flat subscription, so set a monthly spending limit on your key.
Is it safe to give an app my API key?
It depends on where the app keeps the key. Apps that store it only on your device are the safest; apps that store it on their servers should say how it is encrypted. Use a separate key per app with a spending limit, and revoke the key if you stop using the app.
What is OpenRouter BYOK?
OpenRouter is one API key for models from many providers. It also offers its own BYOK option: you add keys from providers such as OpenAI or Anthropic to your OpenRouter account and requests are billed to those keys. Apps that accept an OpenRouter key give you all of its models with a single key.
Can I use free local models instead of an API key?
Yes. Many BYOK apps also connect to Ollama or LM Studio, which run open models on your own computer. There is no per-token cost and prompts never leave your machine, but you need enough memory and speed for the model you choose.
Find a BYOK app
BYOKList lists 93 AI tools that work with your own key, checked by hand.
Browse the directory