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AI Glossary

BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)

Understanding AI Terminology

A model where you use your own API keys to access AI services, paying providers directly.

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What It Means

BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) is an AI access model where users provide their own API keys from providers like OpenAI or Anthropic. Instead of paying marked-up subscription fees, you pay providers directly at their published rates. This model offers transparent pricing, no arbitrary usage limits, and the flexibility to use multiple providers through a single interface.

Examples

  • Using your OpenAI key to access GPT-4 at OpenAI's rates
  • Adding an Anthropic key for Claude access without subscriptions
  • OpenRouter keys for unified multi-provider access

How This Applies to ARKA-AI

ARKA-AI is built on the BYOK model, giving you complete cost transparency and control. You pay only for what you use at provider rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)

BYOK offers transparent per-request pricing (you see exact costs), no usage caps or throttling, access to the latest models immediately, and typically lower costs for most users.
Most users spend significantly less with BYOK than with a $20/month subscription. Light users might spend $2-5/month, while heavy users get more value without rate limits.

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