BYOK AI agents: bring your own key, keep control of your AI spend
Clyde runs BYOK AI agents, which means “bring your own key”. Instead of paying Clyde for AI usage at a marked-up rate, you connect your own API key from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini or OpenRouter. Your provider bills you directly at their published price, and Clyde shows you exactly what each agent and each task cost.
WORKS WITH KEYS FROM
- Anthropic
- OpenAI
- Google Gemini
- OpenRouter
Why businesses choose BYOK
- ▶No markup: you pay the model provider’s own price for every token.
- ▶Spend control: set limits and alerts in your provider account, where they belong.
- ▶Model choice: run each agent on the model that suits the job, from fast and cheap to most capable.
- ▶Transparency: Clyde tracks the cost of every task and session, so nothing is a surprise.
- ▶No lock-in: switch provider or model without changing how your agents work.
How BYOK works in Clyde
You create an API key in your AI provider’s dashboard and paste it into Clyde. Clyde uses that key when your agents call a model. Your Clyde plan covers the platform (agents, integrations, schedules and hosting); the model usage is billed by the provider to your own account.
You can mix models. A research agent might use a top Claude model, while a simple sorting task runs on a smaller, cheaper one. Through OpenRouter you can reach hundreds of models with a single key.
Hosted or self-hosted
Clyde Cloud is the hosted version, with nothing to install and over 1000 app integrations ready to connect. If you would rather keep everything on your own machine, the open-source build of Clyde is free to self-host under the MIT licence, also with your own key.
EXAMPLE · A COMPLETED TASK
“Run the research agent on Claude, and use a cheaper model for the inbox sorting.”
- 01You add your Anthropic and OpenRouter keys in Clyde.
- 02Clyde assigns a Claude model to the research agent and a smaller model to the inbox agent.
- 03Each task runs on its assigned model and is billed to your own provider accounts.
- 04Clyde’s cost tracking shows the spend per agent, so you can tune it week by week.
✓ Result: Better results where they matter and lower costs where they don’t, with every cent visible.
Frequently asked questions
What does BYOK mean for AI agents?
BYOK stands for “bring your own key”. You connect your own API key from an AI provider, and the agent platform uses it to call models. You pay the provider directly instead of paying a marked-up rate through the platform.
Which AI providers does Clyde support?
Clyde Cloud supports Anthropic, OpenAI, Google Gemini and OpenRouter, which gives access to hundreds of further models.
Do I still pay for Clyde if I bring my own key?
Yes. Clyde Cloud plans are $5 a month (Pro) or $10 a month (Power), which cover the platform. AI model usage is billed separately by your provider. The open-source self-hosted version is free.
PUT CLYDE TO WORK
Clyde Cloud is hosted, so your AI team is online in minutes. Plans start at $5 a month: connect your apps, bring your own AI key and cancel anytime.