Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)
import { Aside } from ‘@astrojs/starlight/components’;
BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) lets you use your own API key from OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google to power Teachback sessions.
When a BYOK key is present for your current subscription tier, Teachback routes requests directly to the provider — bypassing the Teachback cloud worker and its monthly quota limits entirely.
Why use BYOK?
Section titled “Why use BYOK?”- No quota limits — your own API account has its own billing, so you’re not limited to the monthly session cap.
- Latest models — your account may have access to models or preview versions before they’re available on Teachback’s standard tiers.
- Full control — see exactly what you’re spending and on what in your provider’s dashboard.
Which key goes with which tier?
Section titled “Which key goes with which tier?”| Subscription tier | BYOK provider | Key to enter |
|---|---|---|
| Free / Standard | Google Gemini | Gemini API key |
| Pro | OpenAI | OpenAI API key |
| Ultimate | Anthropic | Anthropic API key |
You only need to enter the key for your current active tier.
Entering keys for other tiers has no effect until you upgrade.
Setting up a BYOK key
Section titled “Setting up a BYOK key”1. Get an API key from your provider
Section titled “1. Get an API key from your provider”- Gemini — Google AI Studio → Get API Key
- OpenAI — platform.openai.com → API keys
- Anthropic — console.anthropic.com → API keys
2. Enter the key in Teachback
Section titled “2. Enter the key in Teachback”- Open the app and go to Settings.
- Tap API Keys & Endpoints.
- Find the card matching your subscription tier (e.g. “Gemini” for Free/Standard).
- Paste your API key and tap Save.
3. Verify it works
Section titled “3. Verify it works”Start a new session. If your key is valid, the session will use your key and not consume your Teachback monthly quota.
Clearing or updating a key
Section titled “Clearing or updating a key”To remove a BYOK key, tap Clear next to the key field.
Teachback will fall back to the standard cloud worker quota.
To update a key, simply paste the new value and tap Save again.
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”| Error | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
401 Unauthorized | Invalid or revoked key | Generate a new key in your provider’s console |
429 Too Many Requests | You’ve hit your provider’s rate limit | Wait or increase your provider’s quota |
403 Forbidden | Wrong key for the model (e.g. Free-tier Anthropic key without Claude API access) | Check your provider account has access to the model |