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Adding API Keys

Add your AI provider API keys so your agent can think and act.

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BrainRoad uses a bring-your-own-key model. You provide API keys from AI providers like Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google. BrainRoad does not charge for AI usage or mark up token costs. You pay the provider directly at their published rates.

Your agent needs at least one API key to function. Without a key, it has no access to any AI model and cannot process requests.

The Key Concierge

When your agent has no key — or when your trial credit runs out — the Key Concierge appears on your agent’s detail page. It replaces the old provider dropdown with a guided activation flow that gets you from zero to a working agent in one continuous motion.

Choosing a path

The concierge opens with three options:

  • Try Free — activates your BrainRoad trial credit in one click. No provider account or credit card needed. This option appears only if your trial is still available.
  • Bring Your Own Key — opens guided setup for the provider you select.
  • I don’t know what any of this means — walks you through a short decision tree. Answer one simple question about what matters most to you, and the concierge recommends the best provider:
    • “Try it for free first” → Trial key (if available) or free Google Gemini tier
    • “I want the cheapest option” → Google Gemini free tier or OpenRouter budget options
    • “I want the best quality” → Claude Sonnet (recommended) or GPT-4
    • “I already have an API key” → Choose from supported providers and paste your existing key

Guided provider setup

Once you select a provider, the concierge shows:

  1. Numbered steps to get your key (with a direct link to the provider’s API key page)
  2. The key prefix your key should start with (so you can confirm you pasted the right thing)
  3. A paste field and an optional Test Key button
  4. An Activate button that saves the key to your gateway

Verification and handoff

After you activate, the concierge waits for your gateway to restart (about 30 seconds), verifies the key with the provider, and then opens your first conversation directly. You do not return to the dashboard mid-flow.

If the gateway times out or the key is rejected, the concierge shows a specific recovery path — not a generic error.

Adding keys manually

To add or update keys outside the concierge flow, go to Settings in the sidebar. The Settings page shows all your current API keys and lets you add, update, or remove them. This is useful when rotating keys or adding a second provider after initial setup.

Keys are written directly to your agent’s isolated container. BrainRoad does not store keys in any external database. They live inside your gateway and nowhere else.

Which Provider to Start With

If you are not sure, start with the trial (free, one click). When the trial runs out or you want full usage, Anthropic Claude is the recommended primary provider — OpenClaw is optimized for Claude models and it handles the widest range of tasks. You can add OpenAI, Google, or OpenRouter keys later for fallback or model selection.