BYO key
A deployment pattern where you supply your own model API key to the agent — token costs are billed to you directly, the agent vendor charges only for the software.
BYO-key is standard for open-source agents and an option in several closed ones. The advantage is cost transparency (you see every token), control over which models get used, and the ability to route to private endpoints.
The downside is operational overhead: you manage the API keys, handle rate limits, watch for quota exhaustion, and own the relationship with the model vendor.
For teams comfortable with that overhead, BYO-key is usually the cheapest path past 3+ users. For solo or small-team use, vendor-billed all-inclusive plans win on convenience.
Frequently asked
What happens if my API key runs out mid-session?+
Most BYO-key agents handle this gracefully — the session pauses, the user is notified, and resumes when quota is restored. Plan for it; budget alerts on the model vendor side prevent surprises.