How to Get Your Claude API Key

Before you start

The Claude Console (it used to be called the Anthropic Console) is separate from the Claude chatbot at claude.ai. You need a Claude Console account to use the API, even if you already pay for Claude. Plan on about 5 minutes from sign-up to a working key.

Step 1, Create a Claude Console account

Open the Claude Console →

1. Click Sign Up, or Log In if you already have an account.
2. Sign up with your Google account or with an email address and password.
3. Verify your email if prompted.

Step 2, Buy credits

1. Open this page: platform.claude.com/settings/billing (if you're logged out, the Console sends you to log in first, then drops you right on the Billing page).
2. Click Buy credits, enter your card, and choose an amount. $5 to $10 is plenty to start.
3. Leave Auto-reload off if you want a hard ceiling on what you spend. You can turn it on later from the same page.

The Claude API is pay-as-you-go. You only pay for what you use, and a few dollars go a long way when you're getting started. Purchased credits expire one year after you buy them.

Step 3, Generate your API key

1. Open this page: platform.claude.com/settings/keys.
2. Click Create key.
3. Give your key a name that says what it's for, like "Website chat" or "My First Key".
4. Expiration: choose Never if the key will run a tool or app. A key with an expiration date stops working on that date, and so does anything using it.
5. Linked account: leave it set to yourself.
6. Workspace: choose Default Workspace. A key tied to one workspace works in most tools as-is.
7. Click Create key to generate it.
8. Your key will appear. It starts with sk-ant-

Important. Copy your API key immediately and save it somewhere safe. The Console only shows it once. If you lose it, you'll need to create a new one.

Step 4, Store your key safely

Good places to save your API key:

• Password manager like 1Password, Bitwarden, or LastPass
• Secure note on your computer
• Environment variable on your system, for developers

Never share your API key publicly, commit it to code repositories, or paste it into untrusted websites. Anyone with your key can use your account and run up charges.

Verify it worked

To confirm your key is live, paste it into any tool that accepts a Claude API key, or test it quickly in the Playground inside your Claude Console account. Many AI-powered apps will ask you to "enter your API key". Just paste your sk-ant-... key into the field provided.