> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.viorant.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Bring your own key (BYOK)

> Add a provider key and run models from your own account, with no metering.

Viorant supports **bring-your-own-key**. You add a provider's API key once, and the Hub
runs that provider's models **directly from your machine** — your key, your account,
your usage, and no credit cost.

<Note>
  Your key is stored in your operating system's credential store — the **Keychain** on
  macOS, **Credential Manager** on Windows — and is **never sent to Viorant's servers**.
  The Hub calls the provider API itself; Viorant is not in the path.
</Note>

## Credits or your own key?

Both work, and you can mix them freely — different models in the same space can use
different providers.

|              | Viorant provider                      | Your own key               |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| Setup        | None — works on first sign-in         | Add a key per vendor       |
| Cost         | Spends [credits](/providers/credits)  | Billed by your vendor      |
| Model choice | Three managed tiers                   | Anything the vendor offers |
| Request path | Via Viorant's control plane (metered) | Machine → vendor, direct   |

Use the [credit wallet](/providers/credits) to get started with no setup. Bring a key
when you want a specific model, your own rate limits and billing, or a request path
that doesn't involve Viorant at all.

## Add a key

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Model Master">
    Go to Model Master and add a **Provider**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the vendor and paste your key">
    Pick the provider (e.g. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google) and paste your API key. The
    Hub verifies the key before saving it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick a model">
    Add a **Model** that references the provider. It's now selectable anywhere you run
    — the Prompt test panel, a skill test, or an agent.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Supported providers

The Hub supports keys for the major providers and a range of additional
OpenAI-compatible vendors — nine in total — so you can run agents against whichever
account you already have. Local OpenAI-compatible runtimes such as Ollama and
LM Studio can be added by base URL.

<Card title="Credits & the Viorant provider" icon="coins" href="/providers/credits">
  Prefer not to manage a key? Run on managed tiers from your credit wallet.
</Card>