On this page
Key takeaways
- An API key is separate from a ChatGPT or Claude chat subscription; it needs its own billing.
- Create a dedicated key for analytics so you can track and cap its spend.
- Set a monthly spend limit before you connect the key anywhere.
- Treat the key like a password: never paste it into chats, docs or code repositories.
Before you start
- An API key is not a chat subscription. A ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro subscription does not include API usage. API access is billed separately, per use.
- You need a payment method on the provider's developer platform.
- Menus change. The steps below describe the usual flow; if a menu name differs, look for "API keys", "Billing" and "Limits" in the provider's settings.
Option A: OpenAI
- Sign in to the OpenAI Platform at
platform.openai.comwith your work account. - Add billing. Open Settings, then Billing, and add a payment method or prepaid credit.
- Create a project for analytics (optional but recommended), for example "DashboardGPT". Keys and usage can then be tracked per project.
- Create a key. Go to API keys, choose "Create new secret key", give it a clear name such as
dashboardgpt-analyticsand select the project. - Copy the key once. It is shown only at creation. Paste it straight into the next step; do not save it in a document.
- Set a limit. In the billing or limits settings, set a monthly budget and an email alert for the organisation or project.
Option B: Anthropic
- Sign in to the Anthropic Console at
console.anthropic.comwith your work account. - Add billing. Open the billing settings and add a payment method or credits.
- Create a workspace for analytics (optional), for example "DashboardGPT", so usage and limits are separate.
- Create a key. Go to API keys, choose "Create Key", name it
dashboardgpt-analyticsand pick the workspace. - Copy the key once and paste it straight into the next step.
- Set a limit. In the limits settings, set a monthly spend limit for the organisation or the workspace.
Connect the key to DashboardGPT
- Sign in to your DashboardGPT workspace.
- Open the workspace settings and find the AI provider section.
- Choose your provider, paste the key and save.
- Ask a test question on your data.
- Check your provider's usage page to confirm the call appeared.
Keep the key safe
- One key per tool. If a tool is retired or compromised, revoke just that key.
- Never share keys in chat, email, tickets or documents.
- Never commit keys to code repositories.
- Rotate keys periodically, and whenever someone with access leaves.
- Revoke immediately if a key may have been exposed, then create a new one.
Pick a sensible spend limit
For a first month, set a limit you would be comfortable spending and turn on alerts at 50% and 80%. After a month of normal use, look at actual spend and adjust. Questions that name a metric, a breakdown and a window keep usage efficient, because they need fewer back-and-forth calls.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "Invalid API key" | Key copied incompletely or revoked | Create a new key and paste it again |
| "Insufficient quota" or billing error | No payment method or credit | Add billing on the provider platform |
| Requests stop mid-month | Spend limit reached | Raise the limit or wait for the next period |
| Model not available | Account or region does not have access | Choose another model or check account access |
Frequently asked questions
Creating a key is free, but usage is billed per request. You need a payment method or credit on the OpenAI Platform.
No. ChatGPT subscriptions and the OpenAI API are billed separately. The same is true for Claude subscriptions and the Anthropic API.
Use the provider your organisation already has an agreement with. Otherwise, try both on a few real questions and compare.
Set a monthly spend limit and usage alerts on the provider platform before connecting the key.
No. The playground runs on a demo dataset with no account. You add a key when you work with your own data.