BYOK: Why Sidebrain Lets You Bring Your Own API Key
Understanding the bring-your-own-key model and why it's better for you.
Sidebrain Team
Sidebrain
BYOK: Why Sidebrain Lets You Bring Your Own API Key
Most AI products charge you a monthly fee AND mark up their AI costs. Sidebrain does things differently.
The Traditional Model
Here's how most AI SaaS products work:
- You pay $20-50/month for the product
- They pay OpenAI/Anthropic for each request
- They mark up the AI cost 2-5x
- You have no idea what you're actually paying for AI
The result? You might pay $50/month for a product where $40 goes to AI costs that would only cost you $15 directly.
The BYOK Model
Sidebrain uses Bring Your Own Key (BYOK):
- You pay Sidebrain for the product features ($19/month Pro)
- You connect your own OpenAI/Anthropic API key
- AI costs go directly to your provider account
- You see exactly what you're spending
Benefits of BYOK
1. Transparency
You see your actual AI usage in your OpenAI/Anthropic dashboard. No hidden markups.
2. Control
- Choose your preferred model (GPT-4, Claude, etc.)
- Set your own spending limits
- Upgrade or downgrade models as needed
3. Cost Efficiency
Most users spend $5-20/month on AI calls. With traditional pricing, you'd pay $30-50+ for the same usage.
4. No Lock-In
Your API key is yours. If you leave Sidebrain, you keep your key and usage history.
5. Better Privacy
Your requests go directly to the AI provider. We never see your API key or store your prompts.
How to Get an API Key
OpenAI
- Go to platform.openai.com
- Sign up or log in
- Navigate to API Keys
- Create a new key
- Add a payment method
Anthropic
- Go to console.anthropic.com
- Sign up or log in
- Navigate to API Keys
- Create a new key
- Add credits to your account
Typical Costs
| Usage Level | Monthly AI Cost |
|---|---|
| Light (casual use) | $2-5 |
| Moderate (daily use) | $10-20 |
| Heavy (power user) | $30-50 |
Compare this to $50+/month for similar products with bundled AI costs.
Setting Up BYOK in Sidebrain
- Go to Settings → API Keys
- Paste your OpenAI or Anthropic key
- Choose your default model
- Start chatting!
Questions about BYOK? Check our FAQ or contact support.
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