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

# 🤖 Get a Claude API Key

> Step-by-step guide to create your Anthropic account and generate a Claude API key

## Why a Claude API key?

Orsay uses Claude (Anthropic's AI) to power your conversational agents. To connect your own Claude API key to Orsay, you need to create one in the Anthropic console.

<Info>
  With your own API key, you control your usage directly with Anthropic.
</Info>

## Step 1 — Create an Anthropic account

1. Go to [console.anthropic.com](https://console.anthropic.com)
2. Click **Sign Up**
3. Register with your email or via Google

## Step 2 — Add credits

Before you can generate an API key, you need to add credits to your account.

1. In the console, go to **Billing** (left menu)
2. Click **Add credits**
3. Enter your credit card details and choose an amount

<Tip>
  Start small ($5–$10) to test. You can top up at any time.
</Tip>

## Step 3 — Generate an API key

1. In the console, go to **API Keys** (left menu)
2. Click **Create Key**
3. Give it a name (e.g., `Orsay`)
4. Copy the key shown — **it won't be visible again**

<Warning>
  Your API key starts with `sk-ant-...`. Never share it or commit it to a Git repository.
</Warning>

## Step 4 — Add the key to Orsay

1. In Orsay, go to **Settings → Integrations**
2. Paste your key in the **Claude API Key** field
3. Click **Save**

Your agents now use your own Claude key.

## Choosing the right model

Anthropic offers several Claude models. Here's an overview:

| Model         | Recommended use                      | Cost           |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------ | -------------- |
| Claude Haiku  | Fast replies, simple conversations   | Cheapest       |
| Claude Sonnet | Quality / cost balance (recommended) | Medium         |
| Claude Opus   | Complex tasks, advanced reasoning    | Most expensive |

For most Orsay use cases, **Claude Sonnet** is the best trade-off.

## Monitor your usage

In the Anthropic console, the **Usage** tab shows you:

* Tokens consumed per day
* Associated cost
* Breakdown by model

You can also set up **budget alerts** under **Billing → Budget & Alerts** to get notified when your usage exceeds a threshold.

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="My key was lost or compromised — what should I do?">
    Go to **API Keys** in the Anthropic console, delete the old key, then create a new one. Update the key in Orsay immediately.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use the same key for multiple Orsay workspaces?">
    Yes, technically you can — but we recommend creating a separate key per workspace to better isolate usage tracking.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there a free trial?">
    Anthropic does not offer a free trial on the API. You need to add credits upfront, but the minimum is very low — a few dollars is enough to get started.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>