Use your own API key (OpenAI, Google, Anthropic)
The "Your own AI key" plans: where to enter your OpenAI, Google or Anthropic API key, which models to pick and what changes.
By default, your chatbot uses the AI provided by ScanChat AI: there's nothing to set up. If you already have an account with an AI provider, you can also use your own API key. You then pay for the AI directly to your provider, and ScanChat AI no longer limits the number of replies.
Two types of plans
On the pricing page, a switch offers two families of plans:
- AI included: the AI is provided by ScanChat AI. Each plan comes with a number of replies per month.
- Your own AI key: you provide your API key. The Starter, Growth, Pro and Scale plans exist in both families, with the same lead capture features and the same number of chatbots.
Your subscription type decides how your chatbots work: with a "Your own AI key" plan, every chatbot you create asks you for an API key.
The free trial uses ScanChat AI's AI. To switch to your own key, choose a "Your own AI key" plan. See Change plan and Plans and limits.
Supported providers and models
Three providers are available:
- OpenAI: GPT models (for example GPT-4o or GPT-4o Mini);
- Google: Gemini models (for example Gemini 2.5 Flash or Gemini 2.0 Flash);
- Anthropic: Claude models.
You pick a model from the ones offered for the selected provider.
For a website chatbot, a fast and affordable model (such as GPT-4o Mini or Gemini 2.5 Flash) is enough in the vast majority of cases and lowers your provider bill.
Enter your API key
First create a key with your provider: OpenAI, Google AI Studio or Anthropic. Then, when you create the chatbot:
- Go to step 1 of the creation wizard, Essentials.
- Under Configure your own LLM Provider, click your provider.
- Choose a Model.
- Paste your key into the API Key field.
- Click Validate API Key. ScanChat AI sends a short test message to your provider.
- Once the key is validated, carry on creating the chatbot.
You can't move to the next step until the key is validated. If it's rejected, check that you copied all of it and that your provider account has a payment method or credit.
To change the key or the model later: open My chatbots, click Edit, then the AI Model tab, and finally Save Changes.
Replies and costs
- No reply limit on ScanChat AI's side: the My Usage page shows "Unlimited". You don't need to buy extra replies.
- Your provider bills you for each reply at its own rates, and its own usage limits apply.
- Indexing your website and documents also goes through your key with OpenAI and Google. With Anthropic, which doesn't offer this service, it goes through ScanChat AI's Google service.
If your key is deleted or expires, or your credit runs out with the provider, your chatbot can no longer answer. Keep an eye on your balance and turn on the billing alerts your provider offers.
Keeping your key safe
- The key is only used by ScanChat AI's servers to call your provider. It is never sent to your visitors or included in the code installed on your website.
- It is stored encrypted in our database and is never displayed again: once saved, the field stays empty in your dashboard. To change it, just enter the new key.
A few good habits:
- create a key dedicated to ScanChat AI rather than reusing an existing one;
- set a monthly spending cap with your provider;
- if in doubt, delete the key with your provider, create a new one and replace it in the AI Model tab.
What's next?
Can't find your answer? info@scan-chat.ai