Home Bring Your Own API Key (BYOK) What is BYOK and How to Set It Up?

What is BYOK and How to Set It Up?

Last updated on Sep 17, 2026

Activating your BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) package might seem a bit confusing at first. But whether you're a new user or upgrading from the free tier, this guide will help you get started quickly and smoothly.

📚 Table of Contents

  1. What is BYOK?
  2. How to Redeem Your LTD Key
  3. How to Create an OpenAI Account & Generate an API Key
  4. How to Save Your API Key in TubeOnAI
  5. Troubleshooting: API Key Not Working
  6. FAQs About BYOK

🔑 What is BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)?

BYOK allows you to connect your own API key to TubeOnAI. Instead of relying on our shared quota, you can use your own key from providers like:

  • OpenAI
  • Claude
  • Gemini
  • Starico

Benefits:

  • Higher usage limits
  • Transparent billing directly from the provider
  • Flexibility to choose your preferred AI model

|| ⚠️ Note: Some features like Play Audio require an OpenAI API key and will not function with Claude, Gemini, or Starico.

🧾 How to Redeem Your LTD Key

  1. Log in or sign up at web.tubeonai.com/redeem
  2. Already logged in? Just add /redeem to the URL
  3. Paste the LTD key you received from Saaszilla
  4. Click Confirm — and you're ready to connect your API key.

Redeem License

🛠️ How to Create an OpenAI Account and Generate an API KeY

  1. Visit OpenAI Platform
  2. Sign up or log in
  3. Go to API Keys
  4. Click Create new secret key
  5. Copy the key for the next step

OpenAI auth

API keys

|| Note: OpenAI API is mandatory to activate the BYOK plan.

⚙️ How to Save Your API Key in TubeOnAI

You can enter your API key either right after redeeming your LTD license or later via your settings. To add or update your key:

  1. Go to Settings > API keys** **
  2. Click on "New provider" .
  3. Select OpenAI from the dropdown
  4. Paste your API key into the corresponding field
  5. Click Save

API keys Save API

🧩 Troubleshooting: API Key Not Working

Match the message you're seeing to the fix below:

"Your account has run out of credits" / "no credits remaining" This means your provider account (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, or Straico — not TubeOnAI) is out of balance. Add credits directly on your provider's billing page, then re-save the same key in TubeOnAI under Settings > API keys.

"API key is invalid" or "invalid credentials"

  • Generate a fresh key from your provider dashboard — a copied character out of place, or a key you've already revoked, will show as invalid.
  • Make sure you selected the matching provider in TubeOnAI (an OpenAI key won't validate under "Gemini", for example).
  • Paste the key with no extra spaces or line breaks.

Key keeps getting flagged as invalid or revoked even after re-entering it This usually traces back to the provider account itself hitting a billing or quota limit, which some providers report back as a generic "invalid key" error rather than a billing error. Check your provider's billing dashboard first. If your balance is fine and re-saving the key doesn't clear it, contact our support team so we can check the connection on our end.

Access blocked in your region Some providers restrict API access by country. If OpenAI, Claude, or Gemini isn't available where you are, use a VPN to reach the provider's site and generate your key.

Still stuck after trying the above? Reach out to our support team — we'll help resolve it quickly.

❓ FAQs: BYOK Package

Q: Which providers do you support? A: OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, and Starico.

Q: Do all features work with all providers? A: No. Features like "Play Audio" are only available with OpenAI API.

Q: Are there any limits from TubeOnAI? A: No. You’re fully in control of usage and cost via your own API provider.

Q: Can I switch providers later? A: Yes. You can update or change your provider and key anytime in settings.

Q: How do I remove or revoke an API key? A:

  • Revoke the key via your provider dashboard
  • Or clear the saved key in TubeOnAI > Profile Settings

Q: Does every BYOK plan include a personal API key? A: Not always. Some lifetime-deal tiers include webhook access only, with a personal API key unlocked at a higher tier. If your Settings > Developer Features page shows a Webhook tab but no API Keys tab, that's expected behavior for those tiers — check your plan's feature list, or contact support to confirm what's included in your specific package.

Welcome aboard — enjoy the flexibility of BYOK and the power of your own AI! Let us know if you need help getting started.