> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.passy.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create API Key

> Start building with Passy's unified AI API in under 2 minutes.

Welcome to Passy! Our unified API gives you access to the world's best AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and more) through a single, standardized interface.

Let's make your first request.

## 1. Get Your API Key

First, you'll need an API key to authenticate your requests.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create an Account">
    Visit [dash.passy.ai/](https://dash.passy.ai/auth) to sign up or log in.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to API Keys">
    Go to the [API Keys section](https://dash.passy.ai/keys) in your sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate & Secure Your Key">
    Click **Generate API Key**. \
    \
    Copy your new key (starts with`passy_`) and store it securely.

    <Warning>
      Copy your API key quickly and keep it secret! We only show it once for safety.
    </Warning>
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Create your first request head to [quickstart](/quickstart)
</Info>

***

## Common Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Which model should I use?">
    * **General Use:** Start with `gpt-4o` or `claude-3.5-sonnet`.
    * **Long Context/Coding:** `claude-3.5-sonnet` is highly recommended.
    * **Speed & Cost:** `gpt-4o-mini` or `claude-3-haiku` offer incredible performance for basic tasks.

    See the [Models Catalog](/core-features/models) for detailed comparisons.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How much does it cost?">
    You pay strictly for what you use, without fixed markups. Different models map directly to their underlying provider pricing. Most development testing can be done for under \$1.

    Check your current usage and pricing in the [Dashboard](https://dash.passy.ai/dashboard/overview).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use my existing OpenAI/Anthropic code?">
    **Yes!** Simply change the base URL to `https://api.passy.ai/v1` and use your Passy API key. All your existing OpenAI-compatible SDK code will work without any other modification.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if a provider API goes down?">
    Passy handles failover intuitively. If your primary model's provider experiences downtime, you can seamlessly swap the `model` parameter to an alternative provider in seconds, ensuring your app stays online.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<br />

## Need Help?

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