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Setup Guide

Get your AI API key in 3 minutes

TaleForge uses your own AI account — you choose the provider and control costs. Follow the step-by-step guide below for your preferred AI.

Table of Contents

Jump to the guide for your preferred AI provider

🟢
OpenAI (GPT)
Creative writing, dialogue, brainstorming
3 minutes
🟠
Anthropic (Claude)
Long-form narrative, character depth, literary style
3 minutes
🔵
Google AI (Gemini)
Research, non-fiction, multilingual content
2 minutes
Your keys are AES-256 encryptedYou only pay for what you useMost users spend $1-5/month

Typical cost: $1-5/month

פרק עולה בדרך כלל $0.01-0.05 בעלויות AI, תלוי במודל. אפשר להגדיר מגבלת הוצאות אצל כל ספק כדי לשמור על שליטה.

Your key is encrypted and never shared

אנחנו מצפינים את מפתח ה-API שלך ב-AES-256-GCM לפני שאנחנו שומרים אותו. השרת שלנו מפענח אותו רק כדי לפנות לספק שלך, ולעולם לא מציג אותו במלואו. מכיוון שהשרת שלנו יכול לפענח אותו, הגדר גם מגבלת הוצאות אצל הספק.

🟢

OpenAI

GPT — Creative writing, dialogue, brainstorming

$0.01–0.03 per chapter3 minutes
1

Create an OpenAI account

Go to platform.openai.com and click "Sign up" in the top right corner. You can use your Google account, Microsoft account, or create one with your email.

🖥️You'll see the OpenAI platform homepage with a green 'Sign up' button in the top right.
Go to OpenAI →
2

Add billing (pay-as-you-go)

Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the left sidebar → Billing → "Add payment method". Add a credit card or debit card. We recommend setting a monthly limit of $5.

🖥️The billing page shows your current balance and a green 'Add payment method' button.
Open Billing →
3

Create your API key

In the left sidebar, click "API Keys" → click the green "+ Create new secret key" button. Give it a name like "TaleForge". Important: copy the key immediately — it starts with "sk-".

🖥️You'll see a list of your API keys with a '+ Create new secret key' button at the top.
Create API Key →
4

Paste in TaleForge

Go to TaleForge → Settings → API Keys → click "Add an API key". Select OpenAI, paste your key (starts with sk-...), and click "Add key".

Open TaleForge Settings →

Done!

You're ready to start creating with OpenAI. Head to your dashboard and open any project.

🟠

Anthropic

Claude — Long-form narrative, character depth, literary style

$0.01–0.05 per chapter3 minutes
1

Create an Anthropic account

Go to console.anthropic.com and click "Sign up". Enter your email and create a password, or sign in with Google.

🖥️The Anthropic console shows a clean login page with 'Sign up' and 'Log in' options.
Go to Anthropic →
2

Add billing credits

Click the gear icon (⚙️) → Plans & Billing → "Add funds" or "Set up paid plan". Start with $5.

🖥️The billing page shows your credit balance and options to add funds.
Open Billing →
3

Create your API key

Click the gear icon (⚙️) → API Keys → click "Create Key". Name it "TaleForge". Copy the key immediately — it starts with "sk-ant-".

🖥️The API keys page shows a list of your keys with a 'Create Key' button.
Create API Key →
4

Paste in TaleForge

Go to TaleForge → Settings → API Keys → click "Add an API key". Select Anthropic, paste your key (starts with sk-ant-...), and click "Add key". Done!

Open TaleForge Settings →

Done!

You're ready to start creating with Anthropic. Head to your dashboard and open any project.

🔵

Google AI

Gemini — Research, non-fiction, multilingual content

Free tier available, then $0.01 per chapter2 minutes
1

Go to Google AI Studio

Visit aistudio.google.com and sign in with your Google account. No separate signup needed!

🖥️Google AI Studio opens directly to a chat interface.
Go to Google AI Studio →
2

Get your API key

Click "Get API Key" in the left sidebar → click "Create API Key" → select an existing project or create a new one. Copy the key.

🖥️The API key page shows a 'Create API Key' button and lists your existing keys.
Get API Key →
3

Paste in TaleForge

Go to TaleForge → Settings → API Keys → click "Add an API key". Select Google AI, paste your key (starts with AI...), and click "Add key".

Open TaleForge Settings →

Done!

You're ready to start creating with Google AI. Head to your dashboard and open any project.

Common questions

How much does it cost to use AI?+
Most TaleForge users spend $1-5 per month. A typical chapter costs $0.01-0.05. Google AI offers a generous free tier.
Is my API key safe?+
Absolutely. Your key is encrypted with AES-256-GCM before being stored. It's never displayed in plain text and is only decrypted server-side at the moment of the API call.
Can I use multiple AI providers?+
Yes! You can add keys for all providers and switch between them freely.
What if I don't want to create an AI account?+
You can still write, plan, publish and export without AI. The AI features need a key from OpenAI, Anthropic or Google; Google AI Studio has a free tier.
Why doesn't TaleForge provide the AI directly?+
The BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) model means you're never locked in. You control costs and choose your preferred AI.
What happens if my API key runs out of credits?+
TaleForge will let you know if an API call fails. Simply top up your account. Your work is always saved.
Can I change providers later?+
Yes, anytime! Your projects aren't tied to any specific AI provider.
I'm not technical — is this really easy?+
Yes! It's like signing up for any website. Most people finish in under 3 minutes.

Ready to start creating?

Set up takes less than 3 minutes. Your first 3 projects are free.

Get started free