Getting access to Anthropic's powerful Claude AI models for your business applications starts with obtaining an API key. This article walks you through the straightforward process of creating an Anthropic account, generating your API key, and setting up billing so you can start building intelligent workflows that transform how your team works.
1️⃣ Create an Anthropic Account
Before you can access the API, you'll need to create an account with Anthropic:
Visit console.anthropic.com
Complete the registration process with your business details
Verify your email address if required
Once your account is created, you'll have access to the Anthropic Console dashboard, which serves as your control center for managing API access and usage.
2️⃣ Generate Your API Key
With your account set up, you can now create your API key:
Log in to your Anthropic Console account and click on Key icon in the bottom left corner and select API Keys option.
On the API Keys page, click the Create Key button
Select your workspace (mandatory)
Note: Workspaces are collaborative spaces where teams can separate API sources by use case, making it easier to organize different projects.
Enter a descriptive name for your key (e.g., "Production App Integration" or "Testing Environment") and click Create Key to generate your new API key
3️⃣ Save Your API Key Securely
This step is extremely important, when your API key is displayed, immediately copy it and store it in a secure location:
Consider using a password manager or secure vault for storage.
You will not be able to view this key again after leaving this screen.
If you lose your key, you'll need to create a new one and update any applications using the old key.
4️⃣ Set Up Billing
To start using the API, you'll need to set up billing:
From the left navigation menu, select Billing, add a payment method and purchase credits to fund your API usage.
You can also set up auto-reload to ensure uninterrupted service.
After completing your purchase, you'll be taken to a dashboard where you can monitor your usage and billing
📌 Important Notes
Pricing Structure
Anthropic uses a prepaid credit system for API usage:
Different API calls may consume different amounts of credits
Pricing varies based on the model used and the number of tokens processed
For the most current pricing information, refer to Anthropic's documentation
Rate Limits
Be aware of Anthropic's rate limits to ensure smooth operation:
Limits are based on your usage tier.
Measured in requests per minute, tokens per minute, and tokens per day.
Exceeding these limits will result in a 429 error ("Your account has hit a rate limit")
Remember that your API key is the gateway to building powerful AI-enhanced applications with Anthropic's Claude models on Promptitude.io, so keep it secure and follow best practices when implementing your integrations.
Now that you got your brand-new API key, head back to Promptitude’s AI Connections and add Anthropic:
Click the New Connection button at the bottom right.
Name your AI Connection, for example, “Anthropic Connection”.
Simply paste your API key into the corresponding field.
Click Save.
Now that you’ve added your connection of Anthropic to Promptitude, the next step is to add your first prompts and use them via the API.