Why Your Users Shouldn't Need Their Own API Keys

If you've built an AI-powered app, you've probably hit this question: how do your users actually get access to the AI?

Option A: You pay for everything. You hard-code your API key, cover every request, and cross your fingers the app doesn't go viral before the bill does.

Option B: BYOK (Bring Your Own Key). You ask users to paste in their OpenAI/Anthropic/Google API key. Developers love it because it's free for you. Regular users? Not so much — most people don't even know what an API key is.

There’s a third way, and it’s underrated.

The BYOK Problem

BYOK has been a popular pattern for indie devs who can’t afford to subsidize API usage. Back when GPT-3.5 was the standard and your audience was mostly developers, it made sense.

But times have changed. More non-technical folks want to use AI tools, and BYOK introduces real, avoidable problems:

Onboarding friction is massive. “Go to platform.openai.com, make an account, add a payment method, find API keys, generate one, copy it, come back, paste it.” You lose most people before they even start.

Key security is your headache. Where do you store someone else’s key — localStorage, your server? Either way, you become responsible for protecting another company’s credentials. One breach and your trust is gone.

Multi-model means multi-key. If your app uses GPT for text and Flux for images, your user needs two keys. Add speech and that’s three. Friction multiplies fast.

No revenue for you. With BYOK, users pay the AI providers directly. You built the product, but you don’t capture the value.

Support burden. “My API key won’t work.” “Why was I rate-limited?” “Why was I charged $47?” You're suddenly handling support for other platforms’ billing.

Option C: Let AI Pass Handle It

Instead of asking users to bring keys or burning money yourself, integrate AI Pass as the AI layer.

How it works:

1. You add the AI Pass SDK to your app
2. Users sign up for their own AI Pass account (one-click, inside your app)
3. They get a $1 credit on signup — enough to actually try your app
4. They pay for their own usage, directly through AI Pass
5. You earn 50% commission on every API call they make

That last one is huge: you get 50% of ongoing usage, not just a one-off referral fee. Every text generation, image, or transcription can keep earning you revenue as users keep using your app.

What This Looks Like in Code

The integration is tiny. Here’s the full setup:

<script src="https://aipass.one/aipass-sdk.js"></script>
<script>
  AiPass.initialize({
    clientId: 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID',  // Developer Dashboard → OAuth2 Clients
    requireLogin: true            // shows login/signup automatically
  });
</script>

That requireLogin: true is the magic. New users see a clean login/signup flow right inside your app — no custom auth UI, no “paste your API key” box.

Then you call models just like you normally would:

// Text
const response = await AiPass.generateCompletion({
  model: 'openai/gpt-4.1-mini',
  messages: [{ role: 'user', content: userInput }]
});

// Images
const image = await AiPass.generateImage({
  model: 'flux-pro/v1.1',
  prompt: userPrompt
});

Your users never need to know which provider is running the model. No API keys, no confusing token math — just your app doing what it does best.

The Economics Make Sense for Everyone

Why this structure works:

For your users:

• No API key setup (huge reduction in friction)
• $1 credit on signup to try things risk-free
• Pay-as-you-go (no monthly subscription they won’t use)
• Access to 35+ AI models from one account
• One wallet that works across all AI Pass apps

For you (the developer):

• No API cost burden on your end
• 50% commission on all user API calls
• No payment processing to implement
• No billing support to handle
• Revenue that grows with engagement
• Plug into multiple AI providers without extra integrations

For your users' experience:

• Simple, built-in auth flow
• Automatic payment handling (budget hit → payment modal)
• One account works across any app using AI Pass

Comparing the Options

	You Pay	BYOK	AI Pass
User friction	Low	High	Low
Your API costs	All of it	None	None
Your revenue	$0	$0	50% commission
Multi-model support	Complex	Very complex	Built in
Auth/billing	You build	User's problem	AI Pass handles
User pays	No	Directly to providers	Through AI Pass

Real Apps Using This Model

Browse aipass.one/apps to see 100+ apps already using this approach. QR code generators, cooking assistants, language tools, creative writing apps — indie developers have shipped all of these without asking users for API keys.

Each one removed the key friction and turned engagement into developer revenue.

The Migration Is Simple

If you already use BYOK, switching to AI Pass is straightforward. The API uses the familiar OpenAI-format requests — same message structures, parameters, and responses. Mostly you’re swapping endpoints and adding the SDK for auth.

Check the developer docs for full details, or the quick start guide to see how fast you can get up and running.

Stop Asking Users for Keys

People come to your app to get something done, not to manage API credentials. Every BYOK prompt is a speed bump between them and your product’s value.

Remove the speed bump. Let AI Pass take care of auth, billing, and model access — and earn commission instead of eating the costs.

Your users will appreciate it. Your bank account will too.

Building an AI app? Stop making users bring their own keys. AI Pass handles auth, billing, and model access — you earn 50% commission. $1 credit on signup for your users. Get started.