What Is an AI API Key?

An API key is a unique credential that authenticates your requests to an AI provider’s service. It’s how services like OpenAI, Anthropic (Claude), and Google (Gemini) know who is making requests and how to bill for usage.

How API Keys Work

1. Sign up with an AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.)
2. Generate an API key in your account dashboard
3. Include the key in your API requests (via headers)
4. The provider authenticates your request and charges your account per token

BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)

Many AI desktop apps use a BYOK model — you provide your own API keys rather than paying through the app. Benefits:

• No markup: Pay the provider’s price directly
• Full control: Set your own usage limits and budgets
• Privacy: The app developer never sees your API traffic
• Multi-provider: Use keys from different providers simultaneously

API Key Security

• Never commit API keys to git repositories
• Use environment variables or encrypted storage
• Rotate keys periodically
• Set spending limits in your provider dashboard

API Keys in Elvean

Elvean uses BYOK — add your API keys for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Groq, OpenRouter, or any OpenAI-compatible service. Keys are stored securely in the macOS Keychain, encrypted at rest.