Bring Your Own Key (BYOK)
Use your own OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, or OpenRouter account with FilesDesk — pay your provider directly, keep total control.
What It Is
BYOK means FilesDesk calls the AI with your API key instead of managed credits. It’s included with the Lifetime license ($40 one-time).
How It Helps You
- No monthly subscription — pay only your provider’s per-use rates.
- Unlimited volume — no credit caps.
- Your data path — files go only to the provider you chose, never through FilesDesk’s servers.
- Key stays local — stored in the macOS Keychain or Windows Credential Manager, encrypted by the OS.
Setup in Three Steps
- 1
Get an API key
From OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or OpenRouter.
- 2
Add it in Settings
Paste it under your chosen provider.
- 3
Select a model
FilesDesk fetches your account’s list — vision-capable models recommended.
Costs Stay Small
FilesDesk minimizes API spend automatically: images are downscaled before upload, audio and video become short analysis clips, text extraction happens locally, and results are cached per file.
Industries That Benefit
| Industry | How they use it |
|---|---|
| Consultancies | Route AI usage through the firm’s existing enterprise OpenAI or Anthropic agreement. |
| High-volume processors | Thousands of files a month cost less on direct API pricing than any credit plan. |
| Security-reviewed environments | A known, auditable data path to a single approved provider. |
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Last updated: 20 August 2026