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🔑 Bring Your Own Key (BYOK): OpenRouter

Unlock premium AI models like Claude Sonnet 4.6 by connecting your own OpenRouter.ai API key. This guide explains how to set it up, how it works, and what to expect.

🚀 Why Use Your Own Key?

By default, the platform provides a selection of capable included models. However, some of the world's most advanced reasoning and creative models require a personal API key due to their higher operational costs.

Benefits include:

  • Access Premium Models: Use top-tier models like Claude Sonnet 4.6 and Claude Sonnet 4.5.
  • Pay Only for What You Use: You deal directly with OpenRouter for credits.
  • Privacy & Control: Your key is encrypted and used only for your own companion's thoughts and messages.

🛠️ How to Set It Up

1. Get an OpenRouter API Key

  1. Go to OpenRouter.ai and sign in.
  2. Navigate to Keys and click Create Key.
  3. Important: Copy the key immediately and save it somewhere safe.
  4. Ensure your OpenRouter account has credits (even $5 is plenty to start).

2. Connect Your Key

On Web:

  1. Go to Settings → AI Provider.
  2. Paste your key into the API Key field.
  3. Click Save Key. The system will validate your key and show your current balance.

On Android:

  1. Open the menu and go to Settings.
  2. Scroll to the AI Provider section.
  3. Paste your key into the field and tap Save Key.

🤖 Model Tiers

Once your key is connected, you can change your companion's model in their Profile settings.

Tier Example Models Est. Cost/Turn BYOK Required?
Included Mistral Medium 3.1, Gemini 2.5 Flash, Grok Fast Platform covered No
Premium Claude Sonnet 4.6, Grok 4 ~$0.07 Yes
Ultra (very expensive) Claude Opus 4.6 ~$0.12 Yes

We regularly update the included tier to feature the best available open-weight and platform-provided models.

🔄 How Fallbacks Work

We designed the system to be "fail-safe" so you never lose access to your companion.

  • Missing Key: If you select a Premium model but don't have a key saved, your companion will temporarily use an included model to keep the conversation going. You'll see a brief warning in chat.
  • Zero Credits: If your OpenRouter balance hits $0, the system falls back to an included model. Your Settings screen will show a ⚠️ warning with a link to top up.
  • Invalid / Revoked Key: If you delete or regenerate your key on OpenRouter's dashboard, the system detects the 401 error and marks it as invalid. Your companion falls back to the default included model.

Auto-Recovery

You don't need to re-enter your key if you just ran out of credits. The system automatically re-checks stale key statuses:

  • Every time you open Settings, if your key was previously marked invalid or no_credits, the system pings OpenRouter to see if the issue has been resolved.
  • If the key is now working (e.g., you topped up credits), your status is automatically restored to valid — no action needed.

In short: Top up on OpenRouter → open Settings → you're back in business.

🔒 Security & Privacy

Your API key is handled with extreme care:

  • Encryption: We use industry-standard Fernet (AES-128) symmetric encryption.
  • Storage: The key is encrypted before it ever touches our database.
  • No Logs: Your full API key is never written to our application logs.

❓ FAQ

Do I have to pay twice?

No. You pay OpenRouter directly for the tokens you use. We do not add any markup or platform fees to your OpenRouter usage.

Which model is the best?

For the most "human" and emotionally intelligent experience, we highly recommend Claude Sonnet 4.6. For fast, snappy utility, Gemini 2.5 Flash is excellent.

How do I check my balance?

You can view your remaining balance directly in our Settings screen, or for a full breakdown, visit your OpenRouter Activity Dashboard.

Can I use my key for image generation?

No. Image generation (Flux) is currently handled separately by the platform and does not use your OpenRouter credits.

What if I run out of credits mid-conversation?

Your current message will still go through (OpenRouter processes the request). On the next message, the system will detect the depleted balance and fall back to an included model. You won't lose any messages.

I topped up my credits. Do I need to re-enter my key?

No. Just open Settings and the system will automatically re-check your key. If credits are available, your status will be restored to ✅ valid without any action from you.

Is my key shared with anyone else?

Absolutely not. Your key is encrypted and used exclusively for your companion interactions. No other user on the platform can access or use your key.

What if I delete my key?

You can remove your key at any time in Settings. Your companions will simply revert to using the default platform models.