Most AI-powered SaaS tools work the same way: they buy AI capacity in bulk, mark it up, and sell it to you through opaque "AI credits." antbase works differently — you bring your own API key, and we handle the integration.
Here's why that's better for you.
You control the costs
AI usage costs vary enormously depending on model choice, prompt length, and response length. When you go through a middleman, you pay their margin on top of actual usage. With your own API key, you pay exactly what the AI provider charges — no markup, no mystery credits running out at the worst time.
You choose the model
OpenAI GPT-4o, Anthropic Claude 3.5, Google Gemini — different models are better at different tasks, and prices change frequently. With BYOK, you can switch models as the market evolves without waiting for us to update our integration. You stay current.
Your data stays under your agreements
When you use your own API key with an enterprise AI agreement (e.g., OpenAI's Business tier or Anthropic's API), your data is covered by that agreement — including clauses about not being used for model training. When a vendor proxies AI on your behalf, your data passes through their systems first.
Predictable, auditable usage
antbase logs every AI request with token counts. You can set a monthly budget cap per workspace. When the cap is reached, AI features pause until the next billing period. No surprises. No runaway costs.
The transparency principle
We built antbase on a simple principle: we should make great software, not arbitrage AI costs. BYOK lets us focus on the product, and lets you focus on your work. Everyone wins.