Use your own OpenAI API key for Zinn® AI

What adding it does for you

You do not need a key of your own — Zinn® AI runs on your Zinn® AI credits by default. Adding your own OpenAI key means the AI features that use OpenAI run on your OpenAI account, at OpenAI's own prices, billed by OpenAI. Some models are marked needs your own key; those only become available once you add one.

Before you start

An OpenAI platform account with a payment method added under Billing — OpenAI keys do not work for API use without one. Keys belong to a project, which is also how OpenAI groups spend and limits.

1. Create the key at OpenAI

On the OpenAI platform, choose the project in the project switcher, open API keys and press Create new secret key. Name it and choose its permissions — full access is simplest; a restricted key must at least allow the model requests. Copy the key; OpenAI shows it once.

2. Add it here

This is not on the Integrations screen. Open Zinn® AI in your dashboard and the Your keys tab. Choose OpenAI (ChatGPT) as the provider, paste the key, give it a name you will recognise, and press Save key.

The key goes straight into our secrets vault — never our database — and is never shown again, not even to you.

Press Test it beside the key. It shows Working, Not working or Not tested yet, and we keep re-checking a saved key so a revoked one is noticed.

What happens next

AI features that use OpenAI now run on your account. The key's row shows when it was last used. If OpenAI refuses a request because of your key — it was revoked, or your OpenAI account is out of credit — we tell you it is your OpenAI account that needs attention, so you are not left guessing whether the fault is ours.

If it does not work

Not working. The key was revoked, the project has no payment method or has hit its budget, or a restricted key does not allow model requests. Check the project's settings and Billing on the OpenAI platform.

Not working straight after saving. Check that nothing extra was copied with the key, and that the key was created in the account you meant — many people have more than one.

Removing it

On Your keys, press Stop using this key and confirm. We delete it from our secrets vault and your AI goes back to running on Zinn® credit. Revoke the key at OpenAI too if it may have leaked; removing it here deletes our copy, not theirs.