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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 providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and 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.
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. A typical prompt with a paragraph of selected text costs a fraction of a cent, so even 100 queries a day stays in the low single digits of dollars.
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.

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 of the supported providers — the same Settings panel also takes xAI and Groq keys, and local models via Ollama or LM Studio need no key at all. Prompt Anything Pro lets you switch between them freely, and having multiple providers gives you the flexibility to choose the best model for each task.
Pro Tip

You do not need every provider to get started. OpenAI alone covers most use cases with GPT-5.4. Add Anthropic if you want Claude's nuanced writing style, Google if you want Gemini's speed and long-context capabilities, and xAI or Groq later if you want Grok or high-throughput open-weight models. Start with one and expand later.

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, Google, xAI, or Groq. 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.
5

Choose your default model and preferences

In Settings, configure your defaults: select your preferred AI model (e.g., GPT-5.4, Claude Sonnet 4.6, or Gemini 3.1 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-5.4 Mini or Claude Sonnet 4.6 as your default — these models offer the best balance of quality and cost for everyday use. Switch to GPT-5.4 or Claude Opus 4.6 only when you need maximum reasoning ability for complex tasks.

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.
Prompt Anything Pro's built-in template library with Summarize, Explain, Writing, and Translate templates
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.

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, Google, xAI, and Groq models freely depending on the task — or drop to a local model via Ollama/LM Studio when the text shouldn't leave your machine. 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

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

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AI at API Cost, Not Subscription Cost

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