How To Get ChatGPT API Key? A Step-by-Step Guide

As developers, we often face the challenge of enabling seamless communication between our applications and advanced language model. The ChatGPT API key is here to unlock the potential of OpenAI’s cutting-edge natural language processing capabilities. To access this API, you’ll need a ChatGPT API key. 

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore:

  • What is ChatGPT API key?
  • How to get API key
  • How to use API key in JavaScript
  • ChatGPT Plus and API pricing
  • Rate limit
  • Usage limit
  • Troubleshooting issues

Let’s get started!

What is ChatGPT API key?

A unique identifier, the ChatGPT API key, grants access to the ChatGPT API service. It acts as a security token, allowing secure communication between your application and the OpenAI servers. Understanding the role of the API key is essential to maintaining the confidentiality of your data and usage.

How to get ChatGPT API key for free?

Before diving into the technical aspects, you’ll need to sign up and register on the OpenAI platform. 

Step 1: Sign up

Sign up for Chat GPT from URL https://platform.openai.com/signup?launch

You can sign up using your email address or you can use your existing Google, Microsoft, or Apple account.

ChatGPT Sign up

Step 2: View API keys

Once sign-up is completed, you will be redirected to the OpenAI dashboard at https://platform.openai.com/.

From this page, click the View API Keys link from the user profile menu item.

Select View API Keys

Step 3: Create new ChatGPT API key

Follow these steps to create a new key:
  • Once you click on View API Keys, it will display the API Keys page.
  • Click the Create new secret key button. It will display a pop-up where you have to enter an optional name.
  • Click the Create secret key button. It will display a unique alphanumeric ChatGPT API key. Save this ChatGPT secret key somewhere safe.
ChatGPT API Keys
ChatGPT API Keys

By following these three steps, you can get the ChatGPT API key.

If you are already registered for ChatGPT, you can directly start from Step 2.

ChatGPT Plus API key

ChatGPT Plus is a chat service that offers a user interface (UI). To use the ChatGPT Plus service, you need to subscribe for 20$/month. You can use the API key to interact with ChatGPT features through code. ChatGPT Plus API key is not a valid term; it is simply called ChatGPT API key.

Where to find ChatGPT API key?

After you create an API key for ChatGPT, you need to store it securely in a safe place. However, you will not be able to view your old full API key again on the API Keys page. Instead, you will only see a partial key that hides the rest of the characters.

Therefore, it is important to copy and save your API key as soon as you generate it, otherwise, you may lose access to your ChatGPT account.

ChatGPT API Keys
API Keys

Revoke secret key

If your API key is compromised or misplaced, you should take immediate action to prevent unauthorized access to your account or data. To do this, click the delete icon in the LAST USED column to revoke your API key as soon as possible. Revoking your API or secret key will invalidate it and stop any requests that use it. This way, you can protect your account and data from potential misuse or harm.

You can then generate a new API key and update your applications or integrations accordingly.

Revoke ChatGPT API key

To delete a secret key, you need to have more than one key available. Otherwise, the system will prevent you from removing the only key. The solution is to create a new key before you can delete the existing one.

How to use ChatGPT key? A JavaScript code example

Let’s see how to use the ChatGPT API key to access all the models available on the ChatGPT platform.

The following JavaScript code sends a request to https://api.openai.com/v1/models and receives a list of models in JSON format.

var myHeaders = new Headers();
myHeaders.append("Authorization", "Bearer <API KEY>");

var requestOptions = {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: myHeaders,
  redirect: 'follow'
};

fetch("https://api.openai.com/v1/models", requestOptions)
  .then(response => response.text())
  .then(result => console.log(result))
  .catch(error => console.log('error', error));
To run the code above, you need to enter your ChatGPT API key that you obtained in the previous step instead of <API KEY>.If the JavaScript fetch call is successful, you will get a JSON response like this. (only showing part of the response)
{
  "object": "list",
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "text-davinci-001",
      "object": "model",
      "created": 1649364042,
      "owned_by": "openai",
      "permission": [
        {
          "id": "modelperm-CDlahk1RbkghXDjtxqzXoPNo",
          "object": "model_permission",
          "created": 1690913868,
          "allow_create_engine": false,
          "allow_sampling": true,
          "allow_logprobs": true,
          "allow_search_indices": false,
          "allow_view": true,
          "allow_fine_tuning": false,
          "organization": "*",
          "group": null,
          "is_blocking": false
        }
      ],
      "root": "text-davinci-001",
      "parent": null
    },
    
    .
    .
    .

Subscription plans and pricing tiers

ChatGPT offers a variety of models that suit different needs and budgets. The cost is based on the number of tokens you use, which are segments of words.
For example, 1,000 tokens would be roughly equivalent to 750 words.

If you want to use ChatGPT, you need to pay for two things: the ChatGPT API and the ChatGPT Plus subscription. The ChatGPT API lets you access the chatbot engine from any platform, and its price depends on how much you use it.

The ChatGPT Plus subscription is for using the chatbot on chat.openai.com, and it costs $20/month. This is a fixed fee that does not depend on your usage.

You can check the detailed price details at the OpenAI site.

ChatGPT Cost
ChatGPT Pricing

Rate Limits

ChatGPT has some rate limits to ensure fair and efficient use of the service. Rate limits are based on the number of requests per minute, the number of characters per request, and the mode of the chat. Rate limits are measured in three ways:
  1. RPM (requests per minute)
  2. RPD (requests per day)
  3. TPM (tokens per minute)
The organizational level enforces rate limits. Even if you are using it for personal purposes, it comes under the default “Personal” organization. Read more about the rate limits guide.

Usage limits

To control your costs, you can apply usage limits to your account. This will help you monitor your spending and avoid unexpected charges. Notification emails will inform the owners of your organization when you reach these limits.

However, this feature is only accessible to users with paid plans.

Troubleshooting ChatGPT API Issues

If you exceed the rate limit, you will receive an error message and will not be able to chat until the next minute. You can check your current usage and limit status on the ChatGPT website.

Frequently asked questions

You cannot disable the ChatGPT API key. However, you can revoke it from the API keys page.

API key is free and you can generate any number of keys. However, you have to pay based on the number of request/response tokens. During sign-up, you will get $18 credit.  

You can’t access the complete ChatGPT key from the API keys page. If you forgot or lost it, you must re-generate a new key.  

There is no key required for ChatGPT Plus. ChatGPT Plus is aUI-based version and its cost is $20 fixed per month (as of now).

ChatGPT API key is required only to consume ChatGPT API programmatically. 

No. However, the API key is free.  If you build a custom application using this API, it will incur costs based on input and response tokens.

Conclusion

You can confidently integrate AI-powered language processing into your applications with a clear understanding of the pricing and billing aspects of the ChatGPT API key. By choosing the right subscription plan, grasping billing cycles, and adopting smart usage monitoring, you can harness the full potential of OpenAI’s ChatGPT API without exceeding your budget. 

Empower your applications with state-of-the-art natural language processing, driving innovation and delighting users in the process. Embrace the future of AI and language excellence with the API key today!

Scroll to Top