Overview
While BoostGPT provides hosted API keys for all supported providers, you can bring your own API keys (BYOK) for greater control, cost optimization, and compliance requirements.Benefits of BYOK
Cost Control
Direct billing from providers, potentially lower costs for high-volume applications
Rate Limits
Use your own API tier and rate limits without sharing with other BoostGPT users
Compliance
Meet regulatory requirements that mandate direct provider relationships
Billing Transparency
Direct invoices from AI providers with detailed usage breakdowns
Supported Providers
All major AI providers support BYOK through the BoostGPT dashboard:OpenAI
OpenAI
Models: GPT-5, GPT-4, O-series reasoning modelsGet API Key: platform.openai.com/api-keysCost: Pay-as-you-go pricing directly to OpenAI
Google (Gemini)
Google (Gemini)
Models: Gemini 2.5, Gemini 3 Pro PreviewGet API Key: makersuite.google.com/app/apikeyCost: Free tier available, then pay-as-you-go
Anthropic (Claude)
Anthropic (Claude)
Models: Claude Opus, Sonnet, HaikuGet API Key: console.anthropic.com/account/keysCost: Pay-as-you-go with higher tier discounts
xAI (Grok)
xAI (Grok)
DeepSeek
DeepSeek
Models: DeepSeek V3, DeepSeek R1Get API Key: platform.deepseek.comCost: Competitive pay-as-you-go pricing
Mistral AI
Mistral AI
Cohere
Cohere
Models: Command R+, Command A, Command R7BGet API Key: dashboard.cohere.com/api-keysCost: Free trial, then pay-as-you-go
Groq
Groq
Models: Llama 3.x, DeepSeek Llama, Qwen modelsGet API Key: console.groq.com/keysCost: Generous free tier, competitive paid pricing
Ollama
Ollama
Models: All local models (no API key needed)Setup: Install Ollama locally and provide host URLCost: Free (self-hosted)
Setup Guide
Step 1: Get Your API Key
Step 2: Add API Key to BoostGPT
Open BoostGPT Dashboard
Go to app.boostgpt.co and log in
Select Agents
Choose which agents should use this API key
You can use different API keys for different agents to separate billing or apply different rate limits.
Step 3: Monitor Usage
Track your usage and costs directly in your provider’s dashboard. BoostGPT will use your API key for all requests from the selected agents.
Usage with SDKs
Once configured in the dashboard, your agents automatically use your custom API keys. No code changes needed!Core SDK
Router SDK
Override API Key Per Request (Advanced)
For Ollama or custom setups, you can override the provider configuration per request:Cost Comparison
BoostGPT Credits vs BYOK
BoostGPT credits provide simplicity and predictability, while BYOK offers potential cost savings for high-volume usage.
| Scenario | BoostGPT Credits | BYOK | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Volume (<1M tokens/month) | Simple, predictable | More setup, similar cost | Use Credits |
| High Volume (>10M tokens/month) | Pay per credit | Direct provider pricing | Use BYOK |
| Multiple Models | Single credit balance | Separate provider bills | Use Credits |
| Compliance Required | Shared infrastructure | Direct provider relationship | Use BYOK |
| Development/Testing | Easy to start | Requires API keys | Use Credits |
Example Cost Analysis
Scenario: 1M GPT-4o Mini requests per month- BoostGPT Credits: 1M credits × 10,000
- BYOK with OpenAI: ~$8,000 (OpenAI direct pricing)
- Savings: ~$2,000/month (20%)
Security Best Practices
Protect Your API Keys
Use Environment Variables
Use Environment Variables
Never hardcode API keys in your code
.env
Rotate Keys Regularly
Rotate Keys Regularly
Generate new API keys every 3-6 months and revoke old ones
Use Different Keys Per Environment
Use Different Keys Per Environment
Separate API keys for development, staging, and production
Set Rate Limits
Set Rate Limits
Configure rate limits at the provider level to prevent unexpected costs
Enable Alerts
Enable Alerts
Set up billing alerts with your providers to monitor unexpected usage spikes
Never Share Keys
Never Share Keys
Monitor API Usage
Troubleshooting
Invalid API Key error
Invalid API Key error
Cause: API key is incorrect, expired, or revokedSolutions:
- Double-check the API key was copied correctly
- Verify the key hasn’t been revoked in provider dashboard
- Generate a new API key
- Ensure no extra spaces or characters
Rate limit exceeded
Rate limit exceeded
Cause: Too many requests for your API tierSolutions:
- Upgrade your API tier with the provider
- Implement request throttling
- Use exponential backoff retries
- Consider using BoostGPT credits for overflow
Insufficient quota
Insufficient quota
Cause: API account hasn’t been verified or has no creditsSolutions:
- Add payment method to provider account
- Verify email/phone with provider
- Check billing status in provider dashboard
- Add credits or update payment method
API key not working in BoostGPT
API key not working in BoostGPT
Cause: Configuration issue in BoostGPT dashboardSolutions:
- Verify API key was saved correctly
- Check that the agent is selected to use the custom key
- Test the API key directly with provider’s API
- Re-enter and save the API key
Unexpected costs
Unexpected costs
Cause: Higher than expected usage or expensive model selectionSolutions:
- Review usage in provider dashboard
- Switch to more cost-effective models (e.g., GPT-4o Mini instead of GPT-5)
- Set max_reply_tokens limits
- Implement caching for common queries
- Enable billing alerts
Migration from Credits to BYOK
FAQ
Can I use both BoostGPT credits and BYOK?
Can I use both BoostGPT credits and BYOK?
Yes! You can use BoostGPT credits for some agents and BYOK for others. Configure API keys per-agent in the dashboard.
Do I still need a BoostGPT subscription with BYOK?
Do I still need a BoostGPT subscription with BYOK?
Yes. BoostGPT provides the infrastructure, SDKs, routing, and management tools. BYOK only changes where API calls are billed.
What happens if my API key runs out of credits?
What happens if my API key runs out of credits?
Requests will fail with an error. BoostGPT will NOT fallback to BoostGPT credits automatically. Monitor your provider balances.
Can I switch back to BoostGPT credits?
Can I switch back to BoostGPT credits?
Yes! Simply remove your custom API key from the Integration settings, and your agents will use BoostGPT credits again.
Does BYOK work with all features?
Does BYOK work with all features?
Yes. All BoostGPT features work identically with BYOK, including reasoning modes, multi-channel routing, and integrations.
How secure is storing my API key in BoostGPT?
How secure is storing my API key in BoostGPT?
API keys are encrypted at rest and in transit. Only your agents use your keys, never shared with other users. See our security docs for details.