---
title: "Connect your AI provider and choose a writing model"
description: "Use the included models, your own provider account, or your own key after plan credits run out."
url: https://help.pixelclaw.ai/en/articles/5-connect-your-ai-provider-and-choose-a-writing-model
collection: "PixelClaw guides"
updated: 2026-11-03
language: en
---

# Connect your AI provider and choose a writing model

Use the included models, your own provider account, or your own key after plan credits run out.

## Choose how AI usage is billed

1.  As a blog owner or admin, open **Settings → Integrations → Writing model and billing**.
    
2.  Leave **Use my own AI keys** off to use plan models. Turn it on to connect a provider. Select **Only after my plan’s AI credits run out** if you want your available balance to cover writing first. With an eligible saved model, an entire writing step switches to your provider when its price exceeds the remaining balance. Your balance can still be above zero.
    
3.  Expand **OpenRouter** or **Other AI providers** and select the service you use. Enter the key only in its protected **API key** field and choose **Connect** for that provider. Look for the connected status. Never send a provider key to support chat.
    

## Select the models your team can use

1.  In the connected service, tick the writing models you want available and save the provider’s models. Use the choices shown for your account.
    
2.  In **Writing model and billing**, use **Change the default** if several models are available, then choose **Make it the default**.
    
3.  Open **Write a post** and check the model shown at the top. When a model runs on your own key, the provider bills your account for that usage. Other steps, such as web research or image generation, can still have a displayed credit cost.
    

If the key fails validation, check the provider account and its billing or usage limits. Share the error wording with support, keeping the key private.

## Related

- [Create a blog and publish your first post](https://help.pixelclaw.ai/en/articles/1-create-a-blog-and-publish-your-first-post.md)
- [Show PixelClaw posts on your existing website](https://help.pixelclaw.ai/en/articles/2-show-pixelclaw-posts-on-your-existing-website.md)
- [Connect a custom domain to your blog](https://help.pixelclaw.ai/en/articles/3-connect-a-custom-domain-to-your-blog.md)
- [Change your blog menu, homepage, and article layout](https://help.pixelclaw.ai/en/articles/4-change-your-blog-menu-homepage-and-article-layout.md)
- [Connect Google Search Console and see search traffic](https://help.pixelclaw.ai/en/articles/6-connect-google-search-console-and-see-search-traffic.md)