BYOK Explained: Why Bringing Your Own API Key Saves You Money
One of Hatcher's most powerful features is BYOK — Bring Your Own Key. Instead of relying on our hosted LLM with AI Credit metering, you plug in your own API key and unlock provider-paid BYOK usage on any plan, including Free. This guide explains exactly how it works and why it saves you money.
What Is BYOK?
BYOK stands for Bring Your Own Key. When you create an agent on Hatcher, it needs access to a large language model (LLM) to think and respond. By default, Hatcher provides hosted UsePod/OpenRouter LLM access with AI Credit metering based on your plan:
- Free: 500 AI Credits/month
- Starter ($6.99/mo): 3,000 AI Credits/month
- Pro ($19.99/mo): 15,000 AI Credits/month
With BYOK, Hatcher does not meter usage with AI Credits. You provide your own API key from a supported LLM provider, and your agent sends requests directly to that provider. You pay your provider directly at their published rates.
Supported Providers
Hatcher supports BYOK with the following LLM providers:
| Provider | Popular Models | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | GPT-4o, GPT-4 Turbo, GPT-4o-mini | General purpose, coding, creative writing |
| Anthropic | Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Claude 3 Opus | Analysis, research, long-form writing, safety |
| Gemini 2.0 Flash, Gemini Pro | Multimodal tasks, fast inference, large context | |
| xAI | Grok-2, Grok-3 | Real-time information, X/Twitter integration |
| OpenRouter | Any model (routes to best provider) | Model switching, fallback routing, cost optimization |
Each provider has different pricing, speed, and model capabilities. The right choice depends on your use case and budget.
Cost Comparison: Managed vs BYOK
Let.s compare how hosted AI Credits and BYOK behave for a community management agent with steady traffic:
Managed (Hatcher's Hosted LLM)
- Free tier: 500 AI Credits/month for testing hosted usage.
- Starter: 3,000 AI Credits/month for hosted usage.
- Pro and above: larger AI Credit grants plus more compute and storage.
BYOK on the Free Tier
- Hatcher cost: $0/mo (free tier)
- Provider cost depends on the model and token usage you choose.
- Total: your provider bill only
BYOK with OpenAI on the Free Tier
- Hatcher cost: $0/mo
- OpenAI cost depends on the selected model and token usage.
- Total: your provider bill only
Even with a premium model, BYOK on the free tier is dramatically cheaper than a paid plan for most use cases. The paid plans make sense when you also want extra features like more agents, larger storage, file manager, or dedicated resources.
When Should You NOT Use BYOK?
BYOK is not always the right choice:
- Testing and prototyping: Monthly AI Credits are enough to test hosted usage before adding BYOK.
- Very low usage: If your agent uses little hosted AI, the included AI Credits may cover it.
- Simplicity: BYOK requires you to manage your own API key, monitor usage, and handle billing with your LLM provider. If you prefer a fully managed experience, the paid plans are simpler.
How to Set Up BYOK on Hatcher
Setting up BYOK takes about 30 seconds:
Step 1: Get an API Key
Sign up with your chosen provider and generate an API key:
- OpenAI: platform.openai.com/api-keys
- Anthropic: console.anthropic.com
- Google: aistudio.google.com/apikey
- xAI: console.x.ai
- OpenRouter: openrouter.ai/keys
Step 2: Configure Your Agent
- Open your agent's dashboard on Hatcher
- Navigate to the Configuration tab
- Scroll to the LLM Settings section
- Toggle Use Own API Key to ON
- Select your provider from the dropdown
- Paste your API key
- Choose your preferred model from the available options
- Click Save
Step 3: Restart Your Agent
Click Restart to apply the new configuration. Your agent will now route all LLM requests directly to your chosen provider with no AI Credit metering.
Security
Your API key is encrypted with AES-256-GCM before storage. It is only decrypted inside your agent's isolated Docker container at runtime. The key never passes through Hatcher's LLM proxy, is never logged, and is never accessible to any service other than your agent's container and your chosen provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use BYOK on the free tier?
Yes. BYOK is available on every Hatcher plan, including Free. It unlocks provider-paid BYOK usage regardless of your tier.
Can I switch providers later?
Yes. Update your API key and model selection in the Configuration tab at any time. Restart your agent to apply changes.
What happens if my API key runs out of credits?
Your agent will receive error responses from your provider and will not be able to generate replies until you add credits. Hatcher does not provide a fallback — if your key fails, the agent cannot think.
Can I use different providers for different agents?
Yes. Each agent has its own independent LLM configuration. You can run one agent on OpenAI and another on OpenRouter, each with its own API key.
BYOK is the simplest way to unlock unlimited, unrestricted AI agent capabilities on Hatcher. Combined with the free tier, it makes running a production AI agent remarkably affordable.