How to Get an AI API Key
This is the easiest way to connect SmartClaw to OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Groq, Mistral, Perplexity, or Hugging Face. Pick a provider below, follow the steps, copy your key, then paste it into SmartClaw.
Quick pick: which one should I choose?
I want the easiest first setup
Start with OpenAI or Google Gemini. They are the simplest first choices for most people.
I want fast and cheap testing
Start with Groq. It is a good option when you want fast responses and light-cost testing.
I want Claude
Use Anthropic. SmartClaw supports Claude through an Anthropic API key.
I do not want a cloud bill yet
Use Ollama or llama.cpp locally. Those do not need an API key, but they do need model downloads.
After you get the key
- 1
Open SmartClaw and go through the setup wizard, or open Settings if you already finished setup.
- 2
Choose the provider you want to use, like OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Groq, or Mistral.
- 3
Paste the API key into the provider field.
- 4
Save, then send a short test message to confirm the connection works.
Cloud providers with official links
These are the official pages to get keys or tokens for the providers SmartClaw supports.
ChatGPT API
OpenAI
Best default choice for most new users.
Step by step
- 1
Open the official OpenAI API keys page.
- 2
Sign in or create your OpenAI developer account.
- 3
Click to create a new API key.
- 4
Copy the key and paste it into SmartClaw under OpenAI.
Good to know
If OpenAI asks for billing or credits, finish that in the OpenAI platform before testing heavily.
Claude API
Anthropic
Best if you specifically want Claude inside SmartClaw.
Step by step
- 1
Open Anthropic Console and sign in.
- 2
Go to Settings, then API Keys.
- 3
Create a new API key.
- 4
Copy the key and paste it into SmartClaw under Claude or Anthropic.
Good to know
Anthropic's docs say you can generate API keys from Account Settings after creating your account.
Gemini API
Google Gemini
Good if you want a simple Google-backed setup.
Step by step
- 1
Open Google AI Studio and sign in with your Google account.
- 2
Accept the terms if prompted.
- 3
Create or view your Gemini API key on the API Keys page.
- 4
Copy the key and paste it into SmartClaw under Gemini.
Good to know
Google says new users can create and manage Gemini API keys from the Google AI Studio API Keys page.
Groq API
Groq
Great for fast testing and responsive chat.
Step by step
- 1
Open Groq Console and sign in.
- 2
Go to the API keys area.
- 3
Create a new key.
- 4
Copy the key and paste it into SmartClaw under Groq.
Good to know
If you only want a quick first test, Groq is one of the easiest providers to try.
Mistral API
Mistral
Good if you want Mistral models specifically.
Step by step
- 1
Open Mistral Console and create your account.
- 2
If prompted, set up billing or select a plan first.
- 3
Go to the API keys page inside your workspace.
- 4
Create a key, copy it, and paste it into SmartClaw under Mistral.
Good to know
Mistral's quickstart says account setup and payment activation may be required before your API key works.
Perplexity API
Perplexity
Useful if you want Perplexity-supported models and search-style workflows.
Step by step
- 1
Open Perplexity and sign in.
- 2
Go to Settings, then the API tab.
- 3
Add credits if needed, then click Generate API Key.
- 4
Copy the key and paste it into SmartClaw under Perplexity.
Good to know
Perplexity's help center says the API tab in Settings is where you add credits, generate keys, and monitor usage.
Hugging Face Token
Hugging Face
Best if you already use Hugging Face models or inference providers.
Step by step
- 1
Open your Hugging Face token settings.
- 2
Click New token.
- 3
Choose the smallest permission you need, usually read or fine-grained.
- 4
Copy the token and paste it into SmartClaw under Hugging Face.
Good to know
Hugging Face recommends user access tokens and explains the permission types in its token docs.
No key needed: local models
If you do not want a cloud API key yet, SmartClaw also supports fully local options. These run on your own machine instead of a paid cloud API.
Ollama
No API key needed. Install Ollama, download a model, and point SmartClaw at your local Ollama setup.
llama.cpp
No API key needed. Download a GGUF model and run it locally through llama.cpp.