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Getting Started

Go from zero to making API calls in a few steps. No account creation required.

1. Buy credits

Go to the Buy page and choose Same-Day Credits for work today or a Prepaid API Key for recurring work. Base USDC usually gives the best price. Card, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are easier checkout options when available, with a $5 card minimum and credit card fees.

Discount tip: Same-Day Credits expire at midnight UTC. Same-day discounts start at 30% and get bigger through the day (up to ~90% off near midnight). Capacity can sell out, but it does not change the time-based price. Check the home page for the live discount.

2. Get your API key

After payment confirms, you receive a Venice.ai INFERENCE API key instantly. Copy it and store it securely — you will need it for all API calls. Same-Day API keys expire at midnight UTC on the day of purchase. Prepaid API Keys are reusable while prepaid balance can fund the next daily credit reserve.

3. Install the OpenAI SDK (optional)

Venice's API is OpenAI-compatible, so you can use the official OpenAI SDK in any language. Or just use curl directly.

Python
pip install openai

Node.js
npm install openai

4. Make your first API call

Point the SDK at https://api.venice.ai/api/v1 and use your Venice API key. You call Venice directly — CheapTokens is not a proxy.

Python
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.venice.ai/api/v1",
    api_key="your_venice_key"
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="venice-model-id-from-/models",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello, world!"}],
    extra_body={"venice_parameters": {"disable_thinking": True}}
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

cURL
curl https://api.venice.ai/api/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer your_venice_key" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "venice-model-id-from-/models",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello, world!"}],
    "venice_parameters": {"disable_thinking": true}
  }'

5. Choose a model

Venice offers models across multiple tiers. Set the model parameter to any supported model ID. See the pricing page for a full list with per-token costs, or read the OpenAI compatibility guide for details on supported parameters.

Model selection tip: Fetch the live model catalog from GET /models, or use GET /models/traits?type=text for the current default text model, instead of hardcoding a shortlist.

6. Manage your key

Use Account to check usage and recovery options. Card buyers use the Email tab with the Stripe receipt or Stripe Link checkout email; CheapTokens sends a private one-time account link. Wallet buyers use the Wallet tab to list purchases, reveal full keys, reissue eligible keys, and top up supported Prepaid API Keys.

Use Playground to test chat, image, text-to-speech, video, and music calls with your key before wiring it into an app. Playground media is temporary test data.

← API Documentation Next: OpenAI Compatibility →