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Getting StartedAPI KeysBYOK

Getting Started with Your API Key

Synthcore Team16 March 20263 min read

When you sign up for Synthcore, you'll notice something different from traditional AI platforms: we use a BYOK model — you bring your own API key. This approach gives you more control, flexibility, and cost savings. Here's everything you need to know.

What is BYOK?

BYOK stands for "Bring Your Own Key." Instead of including AI model costs in our platform fee, we charge a flat rate for infrastructure, orchestration, and safeguards — while you provide the API keys for the AI models that power your agents.

This means:

  • You choose which AI providers to use
  • You control your model spending directly
  • No markup on API usage — you pay market rates

Synthcore recommends specific providers based on our testing, but you're never locked in. Want to switch models or providers? Update your configuration and your agents keep working.

Why BYOK Matters

The BYOK model benefits you in three key ways:

  1. Cost transparency — You see exactly what you're paying for AI usage. There's no hidden markup or surprise billing cycles. Your platform fee is predictable, and your API costs depend entirely on your usage.

  2. Model flexibility — The AI landscape evolves fast. BYOK lets you switch to newer, faster, or cheaper models as they become available — without waiting for platform updates.

  3. Better rates — Many providers offer volume discounts or prepaid credits. With BYOK, you can take advantage of those savings directly.

For vibe coders already using Claude, Cursor, or other AI tools, this model likely feels familiar. You're probably already managing API keys for your development workflow. Synthcore fits right in.

How to Set Up Your API Key

Getting your API key configured takes just a few minutes:

  1. Create an account at synthcore.dev
  2. Generate an API key from your preferred AI provider (see supported providers below)
  3. Add your key in the Synthcore dashboard under Settings → API Keys
  4. Start your project — your agents are ready to work

Your API key is encrypted and stored securely. We never log or retain your key content beyond what's needed for authentication.

// Example: Adding your API key in the dashboard
const apiKey = process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY;
// Your agents will use this key for all AI model calls

Supported AI Providers

Synthcore currently supports these major AI providers:

  • Anthropic (Claude) — Best for complex reasoning, code generation, and multi-step tasks
  • OpenAI (GPT-4) — Strong general-purpose model with fast response times
  • Google (Gemini) — Competitive pricing with strong multimodal capabilities

Each provider offers different pricing tiers, rate limits, and model variants. Start with the default recommendation, then experiment based on your project's needs.

Ready to Start?

The BYOK model puts you in control. Your AI development platform scales with your needs, and you only pay for what you use.

Explore our pricing plans to find the right tier for your project, or learn more about Synthcore to see what our autonomous agent team can do for your codebase.