AI keys, limits & billing

Included AI or your own key

You can start with RankChat’s included AI without entering a key. If you prefer your own AI account, configure an API key separately for each chatbot.

Supported providers: OpenAI, Z.ai (GLM), DeepSeek. Your AI provider charges you directly for its API usage; a consumer chat subscription is not the same as API credit.

Connect a key

1. Open the chatbot’s Settings tab and scroll to Bring your own AI key.
2. Choose your provider. In that provider’s official account, create an API key and enable API billing or credit if required.
3. Paste the key into RankChat and choose Test & save key. Resolve any error before relying on it.
4. After saving, check that usage says the chatbot is using your own key. Only the key’s last characters are shown.
5. Use the remove action to disconnect a key. Without a key, Own key plans fall back to Starter message limits.

Good to know. Own keys work on Starter too: the free plan still allows 100 messages per month and 1 chatbot. Own key paid plans need a working key for unlimited messages. A failed key can stop answers; check provider credit and replace or remove the key.

Plan limits

Starter: 1 chatbot; 100 messages per chatbot per month.

Growth: 5 chatbots; 5,000 messages per chatbot per month.

Scale: unlimited chatbots; 25,000 messages per chatbot per month.

Own key Pro: 10 chatbots; unlimited messages with your own key.

Own key Unlimited: unlimited chatbots; unlimited messages with your own key.

Good to know. Chat and Ask box answers share each chatbot’s monthly message allowance. The current month uses UTC. Reading approved FAQs does not send an AI question. A paid Own key plan without a key uses the Starter message allowance.

Choose and manage a subscription

1. Open Billing from your workspace to see your current plan.
2. Choose Monthly or Yearly, then Subscribe on the plan you want. Confirm the exact total and any tax in Stripe checkout.
3. Return to Billing after checkout and check the active plan.
4. For an existing subscription, use Manage billing or Switch plan to open Stripe’s customer portal. Manage payment details, plan changes or cancellation there.

Good to know. Displayed prices are in USD. The current yearly offer bills ten monthly payments for twelve months of service. Review the renewal date, taxes and cancellation details in checkout. If the portal does not open or the plan is not updated, reopen Billing and contact RankChat if the issue persists.