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AI without a subscription

Use AI with your own API keys, from getting the keys to real costs and the right settings.

A man comparing a printed invoice with his phone at a desk with a laptopAI without a subscription13 min read

Koala and Writesonic alternative, pay for AI per use

Word quotas at Koala and article quotas at Writesonic, set against the cents of BYOK. Dated official prices and the cases where a dedicated tool still makes sense.

Read the article → A woman creator comparing two handwritten lists to pick a free AI API keyAI without a subscription11 min read

Free AI API keys, the options that really exist

Gemini, Groq, Mistral and OpenRouter give a free AI API key with no credit card, while the others bill per use. A dated comparison with quotas and traps included.

Read the article → A woman editor carefully checking the pages of a printed documentAI without a subscription9 min read

Perplexity API key (Sonar) without a Pro account

A Perplexity API key needs no Pro account. You create it on console.perplexity.ai and pay per use for Sonar models that cite their sources, plus a small search fee.

Read the article → A content creator checking a smartphone while sitting at a desk with a laptopAI without a subscription8 min read

How to get a Grok API key without an X subscription

You create the Grok API key on console.x.ai with no X Premium subscription. The xAI account, the credits, the official model prices and how Grok differs from Groq.

Read the article → Hands moving quickly across a laptop keyboard in the middle of typingAI without a subscription8 min read

How to get a Groq API key for fast AI

The Groq API key is free to create and serves open models at record speed. How to set it up, what the free tier allows and how Groq differs from xAI's Grok.

Read the article → A small coin dropped into a piggy bank next to a laptop computerAI without a subscription16 min read

How to get a DeepSeek API key at a rock-bottom price

The DeepSeek API key opens some of the cheapest models on the market. How to create it, the official price list, how the cache works and the trade-offs to know about.

Read the article → A single key held up in front of a wall of metal mailboxesAI without a subscription11 min read

OpenRouter API key, one account for every AI model

One account, one OpenRouter key and hundreds of AI models. How to create it, how credits and free models work and what it really costs next to direct keys.

Read the article → A man typing on a laptop at an open window overlooking Paris rooftopsAI without a subscription11 min read

How to get a Mistral API key, free plan included

Create your Mistral API key on La Plateforme with the free Experiment plan, some of the lowest official prices on the market and a European legal base.

Read the article → Hands typing on a keyboard with a credit card set aside on the deskAI without a subscription15 min read

How to get a free Gemini API key

A free Gemini API key takes two minutes to create on Google AI Studio, with no credit card. The exact path comes with the quotas, the trade-off and the limits.

Read the article → A man checking a code received on his phone in front of his computerAI without a subscription8 min read

How to get a Claude API key from Anthropic

Create your account on the Anthropic console, load a few credits, generate your Claude API key and secure it, one step at a time.

Read the article → A key resting on a stack of invoices next to an open laptop computerAI without a subscription14 min read

Jasper alternative for writing without a monthly plan

Jasper Pro costs $69 a month, while the same AI through an API key costs a few cents. Both approaches are compared fairly, with official figures and the steps to follow.

Read the article → A hand holding a receipt above a calculator and an open laptop computerAI without a subscription18 min read

The real cost of AI when you pay per use

Official October 2026 price lists and worked scenarios show the real cost of pay-per-use AI, from the solo blogger to the agency, with figures you can check.

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