# Use your own AI key

> Already pay for an AI service? Plug it in: on the $10 plan, or as a backup on the plan you have. The quickest way is Sign in with OpenRouter.

Section: Billing

## Two ways to add it

Open **Settings → General → Use my own AI key**. Then either:

- **Sign in with OpenRouter**: no address or key to copy. See below.
- **Any other AI service**: add the HTTPS address of a service with the standard chat-completions API (it ends in `/v1`), your key (if it needs one; self-hosted servers often don't), a main model and an optional fast one. **Test connection** checks that it answers, can use tools and streams.

**HTTPS is required.** 1Helm will not send your key, messages or files to a plain `http://` AI endpoint. A self-hosted service needs an HTTPS address reachable from 1Helm; a local-only HTTP address will not work.

## Sign in with OpenRouter

If you use OpenRouter, this is the easiest way.

1. Tap **Sign in with OpenRouter**. OpenRouter's page opens in the same tab.
2. Sign in there and approve. OpenRouter makes a key just for 1Helm, in your OpenRouter account, and sends you back to Settings.
3. Pick your **main model** from the searchable list (or type any name). Only models that can use tools are listed, because your helper needs them.
4. Optionally pick a **fast model** for small jobs like task titles and hand-off notes. Leave it empty to use the main model.
5. Tick the privacy note and tap **Save**. 1Helm tests the connection first, then shows **Connected to OpenRouter** with the key's last 4 characters.

**Change models** any time on the same page. OpenRouter bills you directly for what your helper uses.

**Disconnect** makes 1Helm forget the key. OpenRouter doesn't let apps delete keys, so to cancel the key itself, delete it in your OpenRouter account (the page links straight to it).

**Your AI data privacy choice goes along.** With a key from Sign in with OpenRouter, your [AI data privacy](https://1helm.com/docs/privacy/ai/) setting is applied to every request: on Zero Data Retention or No Training, OpenRouter only sends it to providers that match. If none of your chosen model's providers fit, your helper tells you and nothing is sent elsewhere; pick a different model or change the setting. With any other AI service, the setting can't be applied there, and that service's own terms cover the AI part.

## On the $10 plan

Every reply and task step runs on your own AI service, and your provider bills you for it. 1Helm charges nothing for the AI part. You pay 1Helm $10 a month, with 100 GB of storage. Everything else we run for you (the computer, the browser, web search and memory) is paid from credits you add, at what it costs us plus 15%. There's no included usage, so add credits before the computer, web search or memory can run. With no credits left, those are skipped (never run on credit, so your balance can't go below zero), the reply says so with an **Add credits** link, and plain chat keeps working.

## Already on Personal, Plus, Power or Max?

Once your key is saved, the same page asks how to use it. You can change your mind any time, both ways.

- **Keep my plan, use my key as a backup.** Nothing changes while you have usage left: your helper runs on 1Helm's AI as always. If your usage runs out before your plan renews, chat switches to your key on its own instead of stopping, and you're told once. **Settings → General** shows *Using your own AI key (1Helm credits used up)* until your usage refills, when your plan renews or when you add credits. The computer, browser, web search and memory still need 1Helm credits, so they pause until then, while plain chat keeps working.
- **Switch to the $10 plan with my key when this billing period ends.** You keep your plan, and everything in it, until your renewal date. Nothing is charged now. From then on it's the $10 plan above. Until the date, the page shows *Switching to Use your own AI key on* that day, with **Undo** to keep your plan. The $10 plan includes 100 GB, so if you store more than that (plus any extra storage you bought), add storage or delete files first.

Removing your key stops the backup. If a switch is coming up, you're asked whether to cancel it too.

## Your privacy

> **Zero data retention doesn't cover the AI part while your own key is in use, unless you use Sign in with OpenRouter, which applies your AI data privacy choice.** Otherwise what the AI reads (your messages, and the files and pages it works on) goes to your own provider under their terms. As a backup, that's only after your usage runs out; with the switch, from the renewal date on. 1Helm's guarantee still covers everything we run.

Your key is stored encrypted and only ever shown as its last 4 characters. 1Helm's instructions sent to your AI service remain 1Helm's and are covered by our [Terms](https://1helm.com/terms/).

---
Web page: https://1helm.com/docs/billing/byok/