Which AI API key should you get first?
Five providers, five consoles, and a subscription you already pay for that does not count. Here is where to start, checked against each provider's own pages.
Is an API key the same as a ChatGPT or Claude subscription?
No. A chat subscription such as ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro or SuperGrok pays for the chat app. An API key pays for software, like the tools on BizWax.Ai, to use the same models on your behalf. They are billed separately, and Anthropic says plainly that a paid Claude plan does not include API access. You need a key even if you already pay for the chat app.
Which API key should a small business get first?
Start with one general-purpose provider and add others only when a tool needs them. If you want to try things for free, start with Google Gemini, which has a real free tier (with the caveat that Google may use free-tier content to improve its products). If you are ready to pay a few dollars for everyday business work, start with OpenAI or Anthropic's Claude; both handle writing, analysis and research well. Add Perplexity later for answers grounded in live web search, and xAI's Grok when a tool calls for it.
Is there a free AI API key?
Google is the only one of the five with a published free tier. OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI and Perplexity run on credit you buy in advance, and none of their official pages we checked on 28 September 2026 advertised free credit for new accounts.
How much money do you need to start?
Very little. All four paid providers work on prepaid credit, so you load a small amount and spend it down. xAI and Google both list a $5 minimum top-up. For light use, a few dollars of credit goes a long way, and because it is prepaid, you cannot be surprised by a bill larger than what you loaded.
Where do you create each API key?
- Google Gemini: Google AI Studio, at aistudio.google.com/apikey.
- OpenAI: the API keys page of the OpenAI developer platform, after adding billing.
- Anthropic (Claude): the Claude Console, under Settings, then API keys.
- xAI (Grok): the xAI console at console.x.ai, after loading credit.
- Perplexity: console.perplexity.ai, under API keys.
Our key guides walk through each console screen by screen.
How do you keep API spending under control?
- Prefer prepaid credit, which is a natural spending cap.
- Turn off auto top-up until you know your normal monthly spend.
- Use a separate key for each tool, so you can see what each one costs and revoke one without breaking the rest.
- Delete any key you think has leaked, then create a new one. It takes a minute.
Do you need more than one API key?
Not to start. One key runs most tools. More keys pay off for tools that compare models: AI Consensus puts one question to several models and shows where they agree, and BizChat lets you switch models mid-conversation. On BizWax.Ai you add each key once, every tool uses it, and the provider bills you directly with nothing added on top.
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