# Bring your own API key

> Use your own Anthropic or OpenAI key instead of Inkwell's hosted AI, pick the model, and see how a key changes what counts against your plan.

[Try it in Plot](https://app.inkwell.software/settings/ai)

Every plan includes Inkwell-hosted AI with a monthly allowance. If you already pay a provider directly, you can use that key instead: skills, chat, inline edit, and ghost text then run against your account with them, and do not count against Inkwell's allowance.

![Settings → AI & keys: the provider menu (1) — Inkwell hosted unless you change it — the button that saves that choice (2), and the keys you have stored (3) below it.](https://www.inkwell.software/help/settings-ai.light.webp)

_Settings → AI & keys: the provider menu (1) — Inkwell hosted unless you change it — the button that saves that choice (2), and the keys you have stored (3) below it._

1. **Open AI & keys**

   Press `⌘,` / `Ctrl+,` and choose **AI & keys**. The page shows which provider is active and any keys you have stored.

2. **Choose the provider**

   Pick **Anthropic** or **OpenAI**. **Inkwell hosted** is the default and needs no key.

3. **Paste the key**

   Choose **Add key**, paste the key from the provider's console, and save. Plot checks it with a small request and tells you if the provider rejected it.

4. **Pick the default model**

   Choose the model new runs should use. You can still change it per run from the skill's options.

5. **Rotate or remove it later**

   The same page shows when the key was added and lets you replace or remove it. Removing it switches you back to hosted AI without losing any results.

_The key is checked when you save it. The page shows when it was added, and you replace or remove it from there._

## What next

- [Models and plans](https://www.inkwell.software/help/ai/models-and-plans): Which AI models each plan can use, how the monthly allowance is counted, and what changes when you bring your own key.
- [What each AI feature reads](https://www.inkwell.software/help/ai/what-inkwell-sends-to-ai): The part of your script a skill, the Dramaturg, Agent Mode, inline edit, and ghost text each read, and which provider runs the model.
- [Credits and overage](https://www.inkwell.software/help/account/credits-and-overage): What happens when the month's AI allowance runs out, how prepaid credit packs work, and how turning on overage lets runs draw them down instead of stopping.
- [Read the full walkthrough](https://www.inkwell.software/resources/guides/byok-setup)

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Canonical page: <https://www.inkwell.software/help/ai/bring-your-own-key>