Get your API key
Step-by-step instructions for each AI provider supported by Tavolo. Pick one and you'll be up and running in a few minutes.
What is an API key?
An API key is a secret token that lets Tavolo talk to an AI provider on your behalf. Tavolo uses a Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) model — you create a key directly with the provider, paste it into Tavolo, and that's it. Your key is encrypted via macOS Keychain and never leaves your computer.
Anthropic (Claude)
Claude Haiku 4.5 · Claude Sonnet 4.6
Create an account
Go to console.anthropic.com and sign up with your email or Google account.
Add billing
Navigate to Settings → Billing and add a payment method. Anthropic requires a small pre-paid credit balance (starting at $5).
Create an API key
Go to Settings → API Keys, click Create Key, give it a name like Tavolo, and copy the key.
Paste in Tavolo
Open Tavolo → Settings → AI Assistant. Select Anthropic (Claude) as your provider, choose a model, then paste the key and click Save.
OpenAI
GPT-4o Mini · GPT-4o
Create an account
Go to platform.openai.com and sign up. This is the API platform — separate from ChatGPT.
Add billing
Navigate to Settings → Billing and add a payment method. OpenAI's API is pay-as-you-go.
Create an API key
Go to API Keys in the left sidebar, click Create new secret key, name it Tavolo, and copy the key.
Paste in Tavolo
Open Tavolo → Settings → AI Assistant. Select OpenAI as your provider, choose a model, then paste the key and click Save.
Google (Gemini)
Gemini 2.5 Flash · Gemini 2.5 Pro
Open Google AI Studio
Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey and sign in with your Google account. No separate sign-up needed.
Create an API key
Click Create API Key. Google will create a new project or let you select an existing one. Copy the generated key.
Paste in Tavolo
Open Tavolo → Settings → AI Assistant. Select Google (Gemini) as your provider, choose a model, then paste the key and click Save.
✓ Free tier available — Gemini offers a generous free tier. No billing setup required to get started.
Open Google AI StudioTips
Which provider should I choose?
All three work well with Tavolo. If you already have an account with one, start there. For the easiest free setup, try Google Gemini — no billing needed. For the best quality, try Claude Sonnet.
Is my key safe?
Yes. Your API key is encrypted using macOS Keychain (safeStorage) and stored only on your Mac. It's never sent to Tavolo's servers or anywhere else.
How much does it cost?
Tavolo makes very few API calls — one daily briefing and occasional insights. Typical usage costs well under $1/month. Google Gemini's free tier is often more than enough.
Can I switch providers later?
Absolutely. Change your provider anytime in Settings. Your old key is removed when you switch — just paste the new one.