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Bring your own key (BYOK) lets you use models from third‑party AI providers with your own API key, instead of (or in addition to) the platform‑funded models included with your plan. Once connected, BYOK models appear in the chat model picker and billing for those completions goes to the provider, not your native.builder credits. Use BYOK when you want to:
  • Use a specific model that isn’t in the default catalog
  • Run higher volumes without consuming workspace credits
  • Take advantage of provider‑side pricing, rate limits, or compliance setup you already have
BYOK requires a paid plan or the Lablab Builder plan. Free workspaces need to upgrade before they can connect a provider key.

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Supported providers

Available models for each BYOK provider can expand over time in the picker. Keys are scoped to the workspace that connects them. Every member of that workspace can use the connected provider’s models from the model picker. BYOK lives under Settings → Integrations alongside GitHub, Supabase, and data connectors. See the full Integrations overview.

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Connect a provider

1

Open Settings → Integrations

From the sidebar, open Settings, then choose Integrations.
2

Pick the provider

Select OpenRouter, AI/ML API, Fireworks AI, or Featherless AI.
3

Paste your API key

Generate a key in the provider’s dashboard, paste it into the integration panel, and save. Builder verifies the key before storing it.
4

Pick a model in chat

Open the model picker in the chat panel. A new section for the connected provider appears with its available models.
You can disconnect a provider at any time from the same Integrations screen. Disconnecting removes its models from the picker for everyone in the workspace.

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How BYOK models behave

  • Billing — Completions go directly to the provider on your key. They don’t deduct native.builder credits.
  • Availability — If the key is invalid, revoked, or out of quota, BYOK models are hidden or fail at send time with the provider’s error.
  • Switching models — You can switch between platform‑funded and BYOK models mid‑conversation; each message uses whichever model is currently selected.
  • Plan gating — BYOK is available on paid plans and the Lablab Builder plan. It is not available on Free. Premium‑model gating for platform‑funded models is separate and still follows your plan.

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Next steps

Prompting best practices

Get better results from whichever model you pick.

Plans & credits

See which models are included on each plan.
Last modified on August 3, 2026