# Get an API key: Perplexity

> The Perplexity API is its own product with its own account object - an API group - and its own credit balance, which blocks the keys at zero.

- Canonical: https://big-agi.com/docs/connect-perplexity
- Minimum tier: open  [Open ⊂ Free ⊂ Pro - a tier only ever ADDS to the Open baseline]
- Kind: provider · Last content update generation: 2026-07-27 · Review by: 2026-10-27
- Answers: Where do I create a Perplexity API key? · Is my Perplexity subscription the same as API access? · How do I cap what it spends?

The Perplexity API is a separate product with its own account object, which Perplexity calls an **API group**. It carries its own credit balance and its own bill. Paying for the consumer assistant grants no API credit.

## The API group and its credits

Billing is [pay-as-you-go against credits](https://docs.perplexity.ai/getting-started/quickstart). Adding a payment method charges nothing by itself; adding credit is what funds the group. At zero balance the group's keys stop working, so top up before the first answer. That balance is the limit; the billing dashboard at [console.perplexity.ai](https://console.perplexity.ai) shows it.

## Finding the keys page

1. Sign in at [console.perplexity.ai](https://console.perplexity.ai). The app still links the older `perplexity.ai/settings/api` path, which arrives at the same portal.
2. Select your API group, then open the keys page from the sidebar ([Perplexity's own description](https://docs.perplexity.ai/getting-started/api-groups)).
3. Create the key and copy it while it is on screen.

## Where Big-AGI wants it

Open **Models** (`Ctrl + Shift + M`) and press **More Services** if the **Setup AI Models** wizard appears. Then **Add** -> **Perplexity**, paste into **Perplexity API Key**, and press **Models** - the list filling in below is your confirmation ([add and manage your keys](/docs/connect-models)).

## Direct Connection

Direct Connection can be turned on once the key is in the browser. It starts off.

> **Direct Connection works only with your API key stored in the browser**, and with an AI service that permits direct browser calls (CORS). Where it cannot be used, requests route through the Big-AGI fast edge servers instead - everything still works, within the standard upload size and time limits.

## Related

- [Connect an AI service](/docs/connect-models)
- [Direct Connection](/docs/feature-direct-connection)