🔑 How to Get Your OpenAI API Key for Use in ZotAI
If you want ZotAI to connect to OpenAI’s language models (such as GPT-4.1 or GPT-4o), you will need your own OpenAI API key. This key allows ZotAI to make secure requests to OpenAI on your behalf.
✅ What Is an API Key?
An API key is simply a long, secret code that gives ZotAI permission to talk to OpenAI’s servers. It acts like a password for apps:
- It authorises ZotAI to use OpenAI’s models
- All usage is under your OpenAI account
- You control billing and limits
- You can delete or rotate the key anytime
ZotAI keeps your key private and never shares it with anyone.
✅ Do I Need a Subscription to ChatGPT or GPT Plus?
This is one of the most common questions. The answer is: You do NOT need a ChatGPT Plus subscription to use the OpenAI API.
ChatGPT Plus, Team, or Pro subscriptions are only for using the ChatGPT website/app. They do not include API access and do not provide an API key.
✅ What if I already have ChatGPT Plus?
Even if you pay for ChatGPT Plus, you still need to:
- Create a separate API key
- Enable Pay-As-You-Go billing for API usage
The ChatGPT subscription does not cover API usage.
✅ Important: You Must Add Credit to Your OpenAI API Account
OpenAI requires all new API accounts to add at least $5 in credit before the API key will work. This is a one-time top-up to activate your account.
If you create an API key without adding credit, ZotAI will not be able to access any models and you may see errors like:
- “Billing not active”
- “You must add funds to your account”
- “Account not enabled for API usage”
To activate your API key:
- Go to the OpenAI Billing page:
https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/billing/overview - Enable Pay-As-You-Go
- Add at least $5 (the minimum)
This balance is used for API requests. Most users find that $5 lasts them a long time, depending on usage.
✅ Do I need a shared GPT subscription inside ZotAI?
No — ZotAI does not use any shared GPT subscription. You use your own API key so you stay fully in control:
- Your billing (only pay for what you use)
- Your limits
- Your choice of models
- Your data privacy
This is safer and more reliable than sharing one key between many users.
✅ Step 1 — Sign In to the OpenAI Console
Go to:
👉 https://platform.openai.com
Log in or create an account.
✅ Step 2 — Go to the API Keys Page
Open your API keys menu here:
👉
https://platform.openai.com/settings/keys
✅ Step 3 — Create a New API Key
- Click “Create new secret key”
- Name it (optional, e.g. “ZotAI”)
- Click Create
- Copy your key — you won’t see it again
✅ Step 4 — Add the Key Into ZotAI
- Open ZotAI
- Go to Settings → Model Providers → OpenAI
- Paste your API key
- Save
ZotAI will now connect to OpenAI securely using your key.
✅ Step 5 — Keep Your Key Safe
- Never share your key
- Store it safely
- If needed, delete it and create a new one at any time
✅ Need Help?
If you need assistance, contact us through the Help section in ZotAI or email [email protected].