Bring your own key
An AI writing app where you pay for the AI directly
Connect your own OpenRouter account and OpenRouter bills you per use, at its own prices. FictionAI charges only for the app: free for up to 3 books, or $9.99/month for Pro. No markup, no bundled allowance.
3 books free, no credit card. AI use is billed by OpenRouter to your own account.
How BYOK works
- 01
Create an OpenRouter account
Sign up at openrouter.ai and add funds. OpenRouter is a single account for models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and others.
- 02
Connect it to FictionAI
Click Connect OpenRouter and approve on OpenRouter's site, or paste an API key in Settings. The key is stored encrypted.
- 03
Pick a Quality setting
Fast (Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite), Balanced (Claude Sonnet) or Best (Claude Opus). Settings → Advanced can pick any OpenRouter model per task.
- 04
Write and watch the cost
Each generation shows an estimate first and the actual cost after, charged to your OpenRouter account.
What BYOK gives you
Real prices
You pay OpenRouter's listed per-token price for each generation. FictionAI adds nothing on top.
Visible costs
Estimates before each action, actual costs after, a running total per book and a monthly total in Plan & usage.
Your limits
Set a spending limit on your OpenRouter key. Switch to a cheaper model for drafts at any time.
New models
Settings → Advanced lists the models OpenRouter currently offers, so new ones appear there without a FictionAI update.
Your account
Generations run on your OpenRouter account, so its activity log shows every request.
Price changes pass through
Estimates use OpenRouter's live prices, so a price drop shows up in your next estimate.
What FictionAI charges
The app fee only. AI use is always billed by OpenRouter.
| Plan detail | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 | $9.99/month |
| Books | Up to 3 | Unlimited |
| Series | None | Unlimited |
| Adult content | No | Yes |
| AI usage | You pay OpenRouter; no FictionAI markup | You pay OpenRouter; no FictionAI markup |
Questions
How much does OpenRouter cost?
It depends on the model: OpenRouter charges per token at each model's listed price. FictionAI shows the estimated cost of a chapter at your Quality setting before you write it, from OpenRouter's live prices.
Is BYOK complicated to set up?
No. Click Connect OpenRouter, sign in to OpenRouter and approve; you return to FictionAI connected. Pasting an API key in Settings also works.
What if I run out of OpenRouter credits?
Generations stop with a message saying your OpenRouter account is out of funds. Add funds on OpenRouter and try again. You can also set a spending limit on the key.
Can I switch back to regular pricing?
FictionAI only works with your own OpenRouter account; there is no bundled-AI plan. The app itself is free for up to 3 books, or $9.99/month for unlimited books.
Try BYOK on the Free plan
Connect OpenRouter, build a story bible and see exactly what it cost.