Choose your AI
Pick an AI provider and get your API key.
Your agent needs an AI provider to think. Claude is recommended for the best outreach quality. Gemini also works if you want lower costs.
Before you paste a credit card: non-tech users often see 5-10x higher bills on OpenClaw
You pay the AI provider directly, and OpenClaw defaults are not tuned for cost. Non-technical users routinely end up spending 5-10x the amount the same workload costs on BeReach Agent (Chrome extension, no server, token optimization handled for you).
If you're going ahead with OpenClaw:
- Always set a monthly spending limit on your provider before connecting it (see the Claude/Gemini steps below).
- Prepare your prompts before chatting - every message uses credits. Write your ICP, tone, and instructions once, paste them in one go.
- Don't install other OpenClaw skills without expert advice - unoptimized skills can cost significantly more.
- Use autopilot instead of manual chat for daily operations - it uses fewer credits per action.
See the LLM cost comparison for full breakdowns.
API key vs Claude subscription
A Claude Pro subscription (claude.ai) is for chatting in your browser - it does NOT include API access. Your agent needs an API key from platform.claude.com, which charges per token used (~$19/month for 200 leads + 200 DMs).
Cost comparison
What you'll spend per month to find 200 qualified leads and send 200 personalized DMs.
| Provider | Config | Type | Quality | Cost/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude | Sonnet + Haiku | API | Excellent | $19 |
| Gemini | Flash | API | Acceptable | $5 |
For a full comparison including OpenRouter, Mistral, and other providers, see the LLM cost comparison.
Get your API key
Claude (recommended)
- Go to platform.claude.com and create an account (Google or email)
- In the left sidebar, go to Settings then Billing and add a credit card
- Go to Settings then Limits and set a monthly spending limit ($25-50 to start) and usage notifications
- Go to Settings then API keys, click Create key, name it "OpenClaw" and copy the key
Your key starts with sk-ant-api.
Copy it now
You can only see the full key once. If you lose it, delete it and create a new one.
Always set a spending limit
Set a spending limit at platform.claude.com > Settings > Limits before connecting. Start with $25-50. You can see real-time cost reporting at chat.bereach.ai.
Gemini
- Go to aistudio.google.com and sign in with your Google account
- Click Get API key and create a new key
Gemini is the cheapest option - good for high-volume campaigns where writing quality matters less.
Which provider should I pick?
- Best writing quality - Claude (Sonnet + Haiku). Worth it if personalized DMs are your main goal.
- Cheapest - Gemini Flash. $5/month, acceptable for high-volume campaigns.