Cost Comparison: Claygent API Key vs. AI Usage

Fatima G. · 2025-07-11T19:42:20.075Z

Hey guys, if we make a claygent and then configure our own API key with it , does it cost more than if we use AI instead?

Cost Comparison: Claygent API Key vs. AI Usage | Clay

12 comments

· Sorted by Oldest

Clay
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No, using your own API key with Claygent costs less than using our built-in AI. It's cheaper per call to use your own OpenAI API key - the price difference is around 0.003 cents vs 1 cent. Connecting your own API key can cut your cost by up to 90%. When you use your own API key, you won't be charged Clay credits at all - you'll only pay your API provider directly.
Sources: When should I use Clay’s OpenAI API key vs. my own? - FAQ | Clay.com Best Practices To Maximize Your Credits - Clay University Do I get charged credits if I bring my own API key? - FAQ | Clay.com
Clay
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Hey Fatima, Thanks for reaching out! If you connect your own API key to Claygent, it should reduce your costs since you'll be billed directly through your API provider. Hope that helps — let me know if you have any questions! Best, Nicole
Fatima G.
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Nicole, does it make any difference if i am using the feature of 'Add enrichment' and then using my own API key vs if i use the feature of 'Use AI' and then add then run it?
Fatima G.
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When i use the 'add enrichment' option it gives me that claygent logo on top of my column, but i am using my own api keys, i just wanna make sure that i am not using more of my open ai key credits if i use claygent
Fatima G.
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@nicole
Fatima G.
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Nicole
Clay
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Hey Fatima, Great questions! Happy to help you out here. Gonna write out an answer be right back. -Nicole
Clay
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Hi Fatima, We’re currently working on fixing that UI bug on our end. In the meantime, as long as your own API key is selected when using Claygent, your Clay credits won’t be used. I’m linking a quick Loom video to help you double-check this: Watch here You’ll notice that before I attach my API key, Clay credits appear next to the "Run Action" button — and once I add the key, they disappear. That’s how you can confirm your credits aren’t being used. Let me know if you have any questions! -Nicole
Danny L.
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Jumping on this, hope thats OK. When you say its 90% cheaper to use your own API. Would that apply not just to claygent, but also to using Chat GPT 4.0 for example. so instead of costing 3 clay credits (and their equivalent cash cost) it would be roughly 90% less in total cost by using your own open ai api?
Clay
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Hi Fatima, Of course — always happy to help, so feel free to reach out anytime! While we can’t give an exact percentage, here’s a helpful way to think about it: any time you connect a service using your own individual subscription (via your API key), Clay won’t charge you credits for that usage. Instead, the cost is handled directly through your personal connection to that service. So essentially, using your own API key helps you save Clay credits since you're not routing that usage through our system. -Nicole
Danny L.
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Thanks for the above (and sorry for hijacking this ticket) it makes sense how it saves on Clay credits, but do you know if there is any data out there that talks about the token cost of using your own API to do the equivalent action using Clays API?
Clay
APP
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Hi Fatima, Thanks for reaching out. The short answer is, it depends on which actions you’re running, but using your own API key will help you conserve Clay credits. Here’s a simple way to think about it: if you don’t have a personal subscription to a tool, Clay can use its own key to run that action for you, but this will cost credits. On the other hand, if you do have your own subscription, you can connect your personal API key, and Clay won’t charge you credits for those actions since you’re already paying for that access directly. This gives you more control and helps you save credits for tools you don’t already subscribe to. -Nicole

Clay
APP
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No, using your own API key with Claygent costs less than using our built-in AI. It's cheaper per call to use your own OpenAI API key - the price difference is around 0.003 cents vs 1 cent. Connecting your own API key can cut your cost by up to 90%. When you use your own API key, you won't be charged Clay credits at all - you'll only pay your API provider directly.
Sources: When should I use Clay’s OpenAI API key vs. my own? - FAQ | Clay.com Best Practices To Maximize Your Credits - Clay University Do I get charged credits if I bring my own API key? - FAQ | Clay.com
Clay
APP
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Hey Fatima, Thanks for reaching out! If you connect your own API key to Claygent, it should reduce your costs since you'll be billed directly through your API provider. Hope that helps — let me know if you have any questions! Best, Nicole
Fatima G.
·
·
Nicole, does it make any difference if i am using the feature of 'Add enrichment' and then using my own API key vs if i use the feature of 'Use AI' and then add then run it?
Fatima G.
·
·
When i use the 'add enrichment' option it gives me that claygent logo on top of my column, but i am using my own api keys, i just wanna make sure that i am not using more of my open ai key credits if i use claygent
Fatima G.
·
·
@nicole
Fatima G.
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·
Nicole
Clay
APP
·
·
Hey Fatima, Great questions! Happy to help you out here. Gonna write out an answer be right back. -Nicole
Clay
APP
·
·
Hi Fatima, We’re currently working on fixing that UI bug on our end. In the meantime, as long as your own API key is selected when using Claygent, your Clay credits won’t be used. I’m linking a quick Loom video to help you double-check this: Watch here You’ll notice that before I attach my API key, Clay credits appear next to the "Run Action" button — and once I add the key, they disappear. That’s how you can confirm your credits aren’t being used. Let me know if you have any questions! -Nicole
Danny L.
·
·
Jumping on this, hope thats OK. When you say its 90% cheaper to use your own API. Would that apply not just to claygent, but also to using Chat GPT 4.0 for example. so instead of costing 3 clay credits (and their equivalent cash cost) it would be roughly 90% less in total cost by using your own open ai api?
Clay
APP
·
·
Hi Fatima, Of course — always happy to help, so feel free to reach out anytime! While we can’t give an exact percentage, here’s a helpful way to think about it: any time you connect a service using your own individual subscription (via your API key), Clay won’t charge you credits for that usage. Instead, the cost is handled directly through your personal connection to that service. So essentially, using your own API key helps you save Clay credits since you're not routing that usage through our system. -Nicole
Danny L.
·
·
Thanks for the above (and sorry for hijacking this ticket) it makes sense how it saves on Clay credits, but do you know if there is any data out there that talks about the token cost of using your own API to do the equivalent action using Clays API?
Clay
APP
·
·
Hi Fatima, Thanks for reaching out. The short answer is, it depends on which actions you’re running, but using your own API key will help you conserve Clay credits. Here’s a simple way to think about it: if you don’t have a personal subscription to a tool, Clay can use its own key to run that action for you, but this will cost credits. On the other hand, if you do have your own subscription, you can connect your personal API key, and Clay won’t charge you credits for those actions since you’re already paying for that access directly. This gives you more control and helps you save credits for tools you don’t already subscribe to. -Nicole