# Use your own AI key (BYOK)

Source: https://help.ligosocial.com/articles/bring-your-own-ai-key

If you are on a lifetime deal or AppSumo plan with BYOK unlocked, open the [BYOK page](https://app.ligosocial.com/byok), paste your OpenRouter key and click **Save key**. LigoSocial then uses your key for all AI work, and the sidebar shows **Unlimited credits**. You pay OpenRouter directly for what you use.

## Who can use BYOK

- **Lifetime deal users** (bought on ligosocial.com) with BYOK unlocked.
- **AppSumo users** with an active license and BYOK unlocked.

If you do not see the key box, BYOK is not unlocked on your plan yet. The [BYOK page](https://app.ligosocial.com/byok) shows your options. Monthly and annual subscriptions use credits instead. See [Plans, credits and invoices](https://help.ligosocial.com/articles/plans-credits-and-invoices).

## Set up your key

1. Create a free account at [openrouter.ai](https://openrouter.ai) and add credit to it.
2. Create a key at [openrouter.ai/keys](https://openrouter.ai/keys). It starts with **sk-or-v1-**.
3. In LigoSocial, open [app.ligosocial.com/byok](https://app.ligosocial.com/byok).
4. Under **Connect your OpenRouter key**, paste the key.
5. Click **Save key**. You see **BYOK activated: Your OpenRouter key is now in use for all AI calls.**

The page then shows **BYOK active**, and the sidebar shows **Unlimited credits**.

## Change or fix your key

- **"Key invalid, update below":** your key was deleted, ran out of OpenRouter credit, or was mistyped. Create a new key or top up on OpenRouter, then click **Update your key** and save it again.
- **"Invalid key" when saving:** copy the full key again from OpenRouter, without spaces.

## Good to know

- Your key is stored encrypted and used only for your account's AI requests.
- Lifetime users use their one-time credits first. Once those run out, BYOK keeps AI features working.
- Usage and costs appear in your OpenRouter dashboard, not in LigoSocial.

## Related articles

- [Plans, credits and invoices](https://help.ligosocial.com/articles/plans-credits-and-invoices)
- [Connect LigoSocial with Claude and other AI tools](https://help.ligosocial.com/articles/how-to-connect-ligo-with-claude-and-other-ai-tools-via-connector)
- [Contact LigoSocial support](https://help.ligosocial.com/articles/contact-support)