How Keychat works
Keychat is a bring-your-own-key AI chat app. You paste your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key, and your browser calls that provider directly. Your key and messages go straight from your browser to your chosen AI provider — we run no server.
There is no server
Keychat is a static front-end. It has no backend, no /api routes, and no proxy. When you send a message, your browser makes the request straight to your chosen provider (api.openai.com or api.anthropic.com). Your API key and your messages travel only between your device and that provider — they never pass through a server we run.
Where your API key lives
Your key is stored only in your browser's localStorage. It is placed solely in the request header (Authorization for OpenAI, x-api-key for Anthropic) of the one call to your provider. It is never logged, never sent to our origin, and never read by any other code path. You can clear it any time from the settings panel (the gear icon).
Where your messages live
Your current conversation is saved locally in your browser via IndexedDB so it survives a reload. It is not uploaded anywhere by us. (It is sent to your provider as part of the chat, of course — that is how the model sees the context.) The “Clear conversation” button wipes the local store.
The browser enforces the rules
The site ships a strict Content-Security-Policy. Its connect-src allows only 'self' plus the two AI provider hosts — so the page literally cannot phone home to anything else. script-src is 'self' with no inline or eval scripts, and there are no ads or analytics in this build.
What it costs
Keychat itself is free and has no account. Because you use your own key, your usage is billed by your chosen provider at their normal rates — check your provider dashboard for details. We never see a bill, a key, or a message.
Which models?
OpenAI's gpt-4o-mini and gpt-4o, and Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Haiku and Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Switch provider and model any time from the settings panel.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Keychat see or store my API key?
- No. Your API key is stored only in your browser's localStorage and is sent directly to your chosen provider (OpenAI or Anthropic) in the request header. Keychat runs no server and never receives, stores, or transmits your key.
- Where do my messages go?
- Your messages travel directly from your browser to the AI provider you picked. We run no backend and no proxy, so your conversation never passes through a server we control. Your chat history is saved locally in your browser via IndexedDB.
- Do I need an account?
- No. There is no sign-up. You just paste your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key and start chatting. Your usage is billed by your provider at their normal rates.
- Which models can I use?
- OpenAI's gpt-4o-mini and gpt-4o, and Anthropic's claude-3-5-haiku and claude-3-5-sonnet. You can switch provider and model any time from the settings panel.