Academy · Token cost
BYOK vs Managed AI
Should I bring my own AI key or use Pendraics Managed AI?
Beginner
Two ways to power Penny. BYOK (bring your own key) means you sign up directly with an AI provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google) and paste their key into Pendraic's settings. You pay them directly, Pendraic adds no markup, and you can switch models freely. Managed AI is a pre-paid Pendraic credit wallet — no separate signup, no api-key juggling, you top up through us. Managed adds about 30% on top of the raw model cost (less than the average BYOK gateway charges) but it's simpler. Pick BYOK if you want maximum control and minimum cost; pick Managed if you don't want to think about AI providers at all.
What to try
- Open AI Settings
- Top up your wallet
Related questions
- How do I get an Anthropic key?
- How do I add credits?