API modes
Machined.ai writes your content using AI models from providers such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google. Who pays those providers depends on your plan:
- Hosted plans (Launch, Growth, Pro and Scale): AI usage is included. Machined pays the providers, and there's nothing to set up.
- The BYOK plan: you connect your own provider API keys and pay the providers directly.
The mode comes from your plan; there's no separate switch. To change mode, change your plan. See Plans & Pricing for what each plan includes.
Hosted plans
On a hosted plan, every model, image provider and research option is available, up to your plan's monthly article limit.
- No API keys needed
- Each article counts toward your monthly allowance
- The allowance resets each billing period
If you open API keys on a hosted plan, you'll see Keys are included on your plan, with a link to view plans.
This is the right choice for most people.
The BYOK plan
On the BYOK (bring your own key) plan, you add your own API keys and are billed by each provider for what you use. The plan itself covers Machined, not the AI usage. It includes up to 2,000 articles a month under fair use.
Add your keys in API keys (from the account menu, top right). Only the Owner and Admins can manage keys.
We recommend OpenRouter: one OpenRouter key gives you every writing model, from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, plus every AI image provider. It's slightly more expensive than going direct, because OpenRouter adds a small fee on top of the providers' prices. If you'd rather pay the providers directly, add keys for individual providers instead.
See Using your own API keys for step-by-step setup.
What each key unlocks
| Feature | Keys that work |
|---|---|
| OpenAI writing models (GPT) | OpenAI or OpenRouter |
| Anthropic writing models (Claude) | Anthropic or OpenRouter |
| Google writing models (Gemini) | Google AI or OpenRouter |
| Flux Pro images | OpenRouter only |
| GPT Image images | OpenAI or OpenRouter |
| Nano Banana 2 images | Google AI or OpenRouter |
| Deep research | Perplexity only |
| Unsplash and Pexels stock images | No key needed |
Models and image providers you don't have a key for appear as unavailable when you create an article or cluster, with a link to add the key.
Legacy plans
If you signed up before the current plans launched and are still on a legacy plan, your workspace uses your own API keys. This is because AI usage wasn't included in legacy pricing.
Legacy plans can only use OpenAI models. Moving to a current plan unlocks Claude, Gemini and everything else, with keys included. Lifetime plans can use every provider.