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Where do I get an API key and how is billing calculated?

Anonymous7/3/2026· Views 135

I'm looking to integrate Claude into my company's service. I'd like to know the process for getting an API key and how the billing works. Is it separate from the Pro subscription?

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첫째StaffLv.67/3/2026

Hi, this is the operations team. Yes, subscriptions and API are completely separate billing systems. How to get an API key: 1. Sign up for Anthropic's developer console (create it separately from your Pro subscription account). 2. Register a payment method and add credit. 3. Generate your API key from the API Keys menu and use it in your code. Billing model: Unlike subscriptions with fixed monthly fees, you pay per token — the amount of text you send and receive. Think of tokens as roughly proportional to character count. Different models have different rates, and input (text you send) and output (answers you receive) are priced differently. Generally, higher-tier models cost more, while lighter models are much cheaper. Two tips for getting started: - Start with a small credit balance and set a spend limit. If you accidentally trigger repeated calls, charges can add up quickly. - Build prototypes with cheaper models, and upgrade to higher-tier models only for parts that need quality. We've put together API key generation screenshots and model pricing details in the guide below. https://usingclaude.com/ko/api/start/claude-api-key-billing-guide