---
title: "How to get an OpenRouter API key"
description: "Create an OpenRouter API key to use models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Meta, Mistral, DeepSeek and more for your email layouts with one key."
canonical: "https://docs.workflow-transactional-email.app/get-openrouter-api-key"
---

# How to get an OpenRouter API key

OpenRouter gives you one API key for models from many companies, such as Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Meta, Mistral and DeepSeek. Connect it to create, edit and translate email layouts with any of them.

## Create the key

1. Sign in to **OpenRouter**, or create an account: <a href="https://openrouter.ai" target="_blank" rel="noopener">openrouter.ai</a>.
2. Add credits to your account: <a href="https://openrouter.ai/settings/credits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">openrouter.ai/settings/credits</a>. Generations are paid from these credits.
3. Open **Keys**, direct link: <a href="https://openrouter.ai/settings/keys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">openrouter.ai/settings/keys</a>, select **Create API key**, name it (for example `Workflow Transactional Email`) and **copy the key**. It starts with `sk-or-` and is shown only once. You can set a credit limit on the key.

OpenRouter's own guide: <a href="https://openrouter.ai/docs/quickstart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">openrouter.ai/docs/quickstart</a>.

## Connect it

1. In your Shopify admin, open **Workflow Transactional Email > Developer > Connections**.
2. Paste the key into the **OpenRouter** card and select **Save key**. The key is checked with OpenRouter before it is saved.
3. Pick your **Default model**. The list shows every text model OpenRouter offers with an estimated cost per layout. For a model that is not listed, choose **Other model id** and enter its id, for example `mistralai/mistral-large`.

The key is encrypted and used only when you generate, edit or translate a layout. It is never shown again.

> [!NOTE]
> **Billing and models**
> Generations are paid from your OpenRouter credits, not your Workflow Transactional Email plan. Browse models and prices at <a href="https://openrouter.ai/models" target="_blank" rel="noopener">openrouter.ai/models</a>, and see [Create, edit and translate layouts with AI](https://docs.workflow-transactional-email.app/create-layouts-with-ai.md) for how models are used.