---
title: "API Keys and BYOK"
description: "Bring your own AI provider keys and understand when Voicetta or the provider bills usage."
publishedAt: "2026-06-27"
modifiedAt: "2026-07-07"
category: "Admin"
tags: "Voicetta, BYOK, API keys, AI providers"
navOrder: "73"
canonical: "https://voicetta.com/docs/api-keys-byok"
---

# API Keys and BYOK

BYOK means **Bring Your Own Key**.

You can add provider API keys in Voicetta when you want your own AI provider account to power selected parts of the agent.

**Keys are optional for voice calls.** Providers with a **Voicetta** badge in Agent Settings work out of the box — usage is billed to your Voicetta wallet. Add your own key when you prefer the provider to bill you directly; your key then takes over for that provider.

## Why it matters for your business

- **Save money:** use direct provider billing where it fits your cost model.
- **Work faster:** switch provider configuration without rebuilding the app.
- **Standardize service:** keep selected providers consistent across agents.
- **Delight every Guest:** choose models and voices that match your service quality goals.

## Where to configure keys

Open **Settings → AI & API keys**.

Only add keys for providers you actually plan to use.

## Common provider categories

Depending on your workspace, keys may apply to:

- LLMs,
- speech-to-text,
- text-to-speech,
- realtime voice models,
- hosted agent providers.

## Billing boundary

If you use your own provider key, that provider may bill you directly and models show as **Free (Your Key)** in the pickers. Without a key, usage of **Voicetta**-badged providers is billed to your wallet at the listed rates. Voicetta may still charge wallet-based platform, phone, carrier, or routing fees.

Always review the in-app Billing and Pricing pages before live use.

## Exception: SMS and WhatsApp text replies

Text replies on the SMS and WhatsApp channels always require your own LLM key — there is no Voicetta-billed fallback for text channels. Add an LLM key in **Settings → AI & API keys** before enabling text replies.

## Exception: Conversation Memory long-term summary

The lasting Guest summary on **Agent → Memory** also uses your own LLM key. The default summary model is OpenAI, so add an **OpenAI API key** (or the key for whatever summary provider you choose under Advanced). See [Conversation Memory](/docs/conversation-memory).

## Best practices

- Store keys only in the app's secure key fields.
- Do not paste API keys into prompts or documents.
- Test the agent after changing provider keys.
- Remove old keys when rotating credentials.

## Related pages

- [Conversation Memory](/docs/conversation-memory)
- [Agent Settings](/docs/agent-settings)
- [Billing, Wallet, and Pricing](/docs/billing-and-wallet)
- [Business Settings](/docs/business-settings)