Get an Anthropic (Claude) API key
How to create an Anthropic (Claude) API key in the Claude Console, what it costs, and where to find it later.
1. Create your account
- 1Go to platform.claude.com (the Claude Console, formerly console.anthropic.com) and sign in, or create an account.
- 2Verify your email and phone number if prompted.
2. Create the API key
- 1Open Settings → API keys (platform.claude.com/settings/keys).
- 2Click "Create Key".
- 3Name the key (for example "BizWax") and create it.
- 4Copy the key right away — it is shown only once.
Anthropic keys start with "sk-ant-".
3. Add credits
- 1Go to Settings → Billing (Plans & Billing).
- 2Add a payment method and purchase a starting credit balance.
- 3Set spend limits if you'd like a safety cap.
4. Keep it safe
Treat an API key like a password. Anyone who has it can spend on your account. Never post it publicly, commit it to a git repository, or paste it into a chat. If a key is ever exposed, revoke it in the provider console and create a new one.
What your Claude key runs on BizWax.Ai
Paste the key in once and these tools use it, with Anthropic billing you directly at its own rates and nothing added on top.
AI Consensus
Compare AI Models Side by Side
Five minds. One answer.
BizChat
Multi-Model AI Chat
One chat. Every model.
Hook Lab
AI Headline Generator
Describe it once. Get 20 headlines, scored.
Repurposer
AI Content Repurposing Tool
One asset in, five platforms out.
Common questions
Is the Anthropic (Claude) API key free?
Creating the key costs nothing, but the Claude API runs on prepaid usage credits that you buy in the Claude Console. Anthropic's own pages did not advertise free credit for new accounts when we checked, so plan to add a small amount before your first request.
Does Claude Pro or Max include API access?
No. Anthropic says a paid Claude subscription improves the chat app but does not include access to the Claude API or Console. API usage is billed separately, in the Console.
Where do I find my Anthropic API key?
In the Claude Console at platform.claude.com (formerly console.anthropic.com), under Settings, then API keys. The list shows each key's name and its last few characters.
Can I copy my Anthropic API key again later?
No. The full key is shown only once, when you create it. If you lost it, create a new key, update it wherever you use it, and delete the old one.
What does an Anthropic API key look like?
It starts with "sk-ant-" (currently "sk-ant-api03-") followed by a long random string. Anyone who has it can spend your credit, so never paste it into a chat or a public file.
Is the Claude Console the same as my claude.ai account?
No. The Claude Console is Anthropic's developer account, where API keys, credits and usage live. Sign in there, not on claude.ai, to manage your key.
Checked against Anthropic's own pages on 28 September 2026. Providers change free tiers and minimums often.
You have the key. Give it something to do.
Most people create a key for one project and never use it again. On BizWax.Ai you add it once and it works across every tool built on Anthropic, with everything you make saved to one Library. Creating an account is free and includes some tools outright, plus free credits each week. The $20-a-month plan runs everything.
Create your account