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PlugMonkey
Updated Feb 2026

How to Set Up Bring-Your-Own-Key AI in Chrome

Stop paying $20+/month for AI subscriptions. Connect your own API keys from OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google and use the same models directly in your browser — paying only pennies per query at actual API rates.

Beginner
10 minutes
7 steps

Before You Start

  • Google Chrome browser (desktop)
  • Prompt Anything Pro installed from the Chrome Web Store
  • A credit card or payment method registered with at least one AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google)
1

Install Prompt Anything Pro

Visit the Chrome Web Store listing and click "Add to Chrome." The extension installs instantly. It is a BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) tool — you connect your own API keys and pay providers directly, with no middleman markup.

Chrome Web Store page for Prompt Anything Pro

Screenshot the Chrome Web Store listing page with the 'Add to Chrome' button highlighted.

2

Get your API key from OpenAI

Go to platform.openai.com/api-keys and sign in (or create an account). Click "Create new secret key," give it a name like "Prompt Anything Pro," and copy the key. OpenAI gives new accounts free credits to start, and after that, you pay per token used. GPT-4o costs roughly $0.01-0.03 per query — so even 100 queries per day costs under $3/day.
Important

Copy the API key immediately after creating it — OpenAI only shows it once. Store it somewhere safe. If you lose it, you can always create a new key, but the old one cannot be recovered.

OpenAI API keys page with the Create new secret key button

Screenshot the OpenAI platform API keys page showing the Create new secret key button and the list of existing keys.

3

Optionally get keys from Anthropic and Google

For access to Claude models, get your key at console.anthropic.com/settings/keys. For Gemini models, get your key at makersuite.google.com/app/apikey. You can add one, two, or all three providers — Prompt Anything Pro lets you switch between them freely. Having multiple providers gives you the flexibility to choose the best model for each task.
Pro Tip

You do not need all three providers to get started. OpenAI alone covers most use cases with GPT-4o. Add Anthropic if you want Claude's nuanced writing style, and Google if you want Gemini's speed and long-context capabilities. Start with one and expand later.

API key pages for Anthropic and Google AI

Screenshot showing the Anthropic Console keys page and the Google MakerSuite API key page side by side.

4

Add your API keys to Prompt Anything Pro

Click the Prompt Anything Pro icon in your Chrome toolbar and open Settings. Under the "API Keys" section, paste each key into the corresponding provider field: OpenAI, Anthropic, and/or Google. Click "Save." The extension validates each key by making a test request. A green checkmark confirms the key is valid and working. Your keys are stored encrypted in Chrome's local storage — they never leave your browser except to authenticate with the AI provider.

Prompt Anything Pro settings showing API key input fields with validation

Screenshot the Settings page with the three provider sections, showing keys pasted and green checkmarks for validated keys.

5

Choose your default model and preferences

In Settings, configure your defaults: select your preferred AI model (e.g., GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, or Gemini 1.5 Pro) as the default for new prompts. Set your preferred response language, maximum token length, and temperature (creativity level). These defaults apply every time you use the extension, but you can override them per-prompt. A lower temperature (0.1-0.3) gives more consistent, factual answers. A higher temperature (0.7-1.0) gives more creative, varied responses.
Pro Tip

Set GPT-4o or Claude 3.5 Sonnet as your default — these models offer the best balance of quality and cost for everyday use. Switch to GPT-4 Turbo or Claude 3 Opus only when you need maximum reasoning ability for complex tasks.

Model selection and preference settings in Prompt Anything Pro

Screenshot the Settings page showing the default model dropdown, temperature slider, and response length controls.

6

Test your setup with a quick prompt

Navigate to any webpage with text content — an article, documentation page, or email. Highlight a paragraph of text and click the floating PlugMonkey button that appears near your selection. Choose any template (try "Summarize") and click "Send." If your setup is correct, the AI response streams in within seconds. Check the usage tracker in the extension popup to verify the API call registered and see the cost.

First successful AI prompt using BYOK setup in Prompt Anything Pro

Screenshot showing text selected on a webpage, the prompt modal open with Summarize selected, and the AI response streaming in.

7

Set up usage tracking and spending alerts

Click the Prompt Anything Pro icon in your toolbar to access the usage dashboard. It shows your API spend per provider with breakdowns by model, date, and template type. Set a monthly budget alert so you get notified if your spending approaches a threshold you set. Most users spend $1-5/month — significantly less than the $20+/month for ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, or Google AI Premium subscriptions.
Pro Tip

Also set spending limits on the provider side. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google all offer usage limits in their billing dashboards. Setting a $10/month hard cap on each provider ensures you never get a surprise bill, even if you forget to check the extension's usage tracker.

Usage tracking dashboard showing per-provider spend and budget alert setting

Screenshot the usage dashboard with a bar chart of spending by provider, a daily breakdown, and the budget alert threshold input.

Summary

Your BYOK AI setup is complete. You now have access to the same AI models that power ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini — but at raw API pricing instead of $20+/month subscription fees. Most users spend $1-5/month on actual API costs for hundreds of daily queries. Prompt Anything Pro keeps everything private: your API keys are encrypted in local Chrome storage, your prompts go directly to the provider, and your response library stays in your browser. Switch between OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google models freely depending on the task. Monitor your usage with the built-in tracker and provider-side spending limits to stay in control of costs.

Need More Help?

Get personalized AI assistance with additional tips and troubleshooting.

Ask ChatGPT(opens in new tab)Ask Perplexity(opens in new tab)Ask Claude(opens in new tab)

AI responses are generated independently and may vary

Related Guides

How to Use AI on Any Webpage Without Switching TabsHow to Create Custom AI Prompt TemplatesHow to Use AI to Summarize Long Articles Instantly

Frequently Asked Questions

AI at API Cost, Not Subscription Cost

Prompt Anything Pro lets you use OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google AI models with your own keys. Pay pennies per query instead of $20/month.

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