> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kiosapi.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Account and API Key

> Create your KiosAPI account and generate an API key in the right group for the models you want.

# Account and API Key

Complete these steps before configuring an SDK or client.

## Create an account

1. Open the [KiosAPI Dashboard](https://kiosapi.com).
2. Register with email verification, or sign in with GitHub if offered.
3. Review the live [Models & Pricing](https://kiosapi.com/pricing) page — it lists every available model, its group, and its current price.

## Top up your balance

1. Open the billing / top-up section of the dashboard.
2. Top up using the available payment methods (payment is processed through `pay.kiosapi.space`; the minimum top-up is shown on the page).
3. Balance is consumed per request according to each model's pricing tier shown on the pricing page.

> [!WARNING]
>
> Model prices and availability change over time. Always use the live [Models & Pricing](https://kiosapi.com/pricing) page as the source of truth — never old screenshots or cached tables.

## Create an API key — group first!

Creating a key takes a minute, but the **group** you select decides everything: which models the key can call and at what multiplier.

1. Open **Console → Tokens** in the dashboard.
2. Click **Add Token**.
3. Name the token, set a quota and expiry.
4. **Select the group** matching your target models (for example `Claude-Kiro` for Claude Code, `Codex-Pro` for Codex CLI, `Free` for free models).
5. Save and copy the key (starts with `sk-`).

Read the full guide: [Choosing a Token Group](/getting-started/token-groups.md).

> [!NOTE]
>
> Use separate tokens per purpose (one for coding tools, one for free models, one for production apps) so quotas stay independent and each key can be revoked without touching the others.

## Want free models?

The `Free` group costs nothing but requires a one-time Telegram verification with [@kiosapi\_verif\_bot](https://t.me/kiosapi_verif_bot). See the step-by-step [Free Models Guide](/getting-started/free-models.md).

## Before your first request

* Confirm the token is active and in the right group.
* Pick a model ID from the pricing page or call `GET /v1/models`.
* Use `https://kiosapi.com/v1` as the base URL for OpenAI-compatible clients.
* Never expose a token in browser-side code, screenshots, public logs, or Git commits.


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