How to Connect Your OpenAI API Key
Learn how to bring your own OpenAI API key to Reepl for AI-powered content generation
Connecting your own OpenAI API key (BYOK -- Bring Your Own Key) lets you use your OpenAI billing account instead of spending Reepl credits on AI operations. All plans can connect an OpenAI key, and Free users with a connected key get Pro-level access to creation tools.
Create an OpenAI API key
Go to platform.openai.com/api-keys. Click Verify to get started if prompted, then complete the verification process.
Generate a new secret key
Click Create new secret key. Give the key a descriptive name (e.g., "Reepl") and grant all permissions. Copy the key -- it starts with sk- and is only shown once.
Open AI Models & API in Reepl
Navigate to Settings > AI Models & API in the Reepl web app. OpenAI appears alongside other AI providers (Claude, Gemini) on this page.
AI providers are managed on the AI Models & API page, not the main Integrations page.
Add your API key
Click the OpenAI card, paste your API key into the input field, and click Add API Key. The key is stored encrypted -- only a partial key is visible after saving.
Select a model
After connecting, use the model selector dropdown to choose which OpenAI model to use. Available models include GPT-4o, GPT-4o-mini, and o1/o3 series models. The default is gpt-4o.
Your OpenAI key is now active. The model selector appears in the Copilot chat input and on the integration details page at Settings > Integrations > OpenAI. Click the refresh button on the details page to fetch the latest available models.
What changes with a connected key
- AI operations use your OpenAI billing instead of Reepl credits
- All OpenAI models become available in the model selector
- Free users get Pro-level access to creation tools
- Beat AI Detection toggle becomes available (Premium plan required, costs 2x credits)
If you are on the Free plan and delete your OpenAI key without adding a payment method, you lose access to content generation features.