How to Get Your AI API Key
Innoventry uses a transparent Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) architecture. Customers connect directly to AI providers without paying inflated monthly reseller markups. Follow this 2-minute guide to activate AI Chat and Bill OCR.
Google Gemini Provides a Generous 100% Free API Tier
You do not need to buy anything to get started. Google AI Studio offers a free developer tier with zero credit card requirement that easily covers daily SME queries and invoice scans.
1,500 / day
Free Requests Per Day
Plenty for hundreds of invoice scans & chats
15 RPM
Free Requests Per Minute
Instant, smooth interactive responses
1,000,000 TPM
Tokens Per Minute
Handles long ledger reports & multi-page bills
₹0 (Free)
Setup Cost
No credit card required to generate free key
Step-by-Step: Getting Your Free Google Gemini API Key
Follow these 5 simple steps. The entire process takes less than 2 minutes.
Open Google AI Studio
Navigate to Google's official developer portal at aistudio.google.com/app/apikey. Sign in using any standard Google account (your existing personal Gmail or Google Workspace business ID).
Click “Create API Key”
On the API Keys dashboard, click the prominent blue button labeled “Create API key”(or “Get API key”).
Select “Create in new project”
A dialog will prompt you to select a Google Cloud project. Simply choose “Create API key in new project”. Google creates an isolated sandbox project instantly. No credit card or billing profile is requested.
Copy the Generated API Key
Google will generate a secret API key string starting with AIzaSy.... Click the copy icon to copy it to your clipboard.
Paste into Innoventry Settings
Open your Innoventry Desktop or Web Client:
- Go to Settings → AI Configuration (or API Keys).
- Under AI Provider, choose Google Gemini.
- Paste your copied API key into the input field.
- Click Test Connection & Save.
Alternative Options: Buying OpenAI or Anthropic API Keys
If you prefer ChatGPT (OpenAI) or Claude (Anthropic), you can purchase API credits directly from them.
OpenAI (GPT-4o / GPT-4o-mini)
Pay As You GoIdeal for businesses that prefer OpenAI models for invoice OCR or chat reasoning.
- Visit platform.openai.com/api-keys.
- Add $5 (approx ₹420) prepaid billing credit under Settings → Billing.
- Click “Create new secret key” (starts with
sk-proj-...). - Paste into Innoventry Settings under provider OpenAI.
Anthropic (Claude 3.5 Sonnet / Haiku)
Pay As You GoIndustry-leading reasoning for complex financial comparisons and Claude Desktop MCP connection.
- Visit console.anthropic.com.
- Add billing credits ($5 minimum).
- Create an API Key (starts with
sk-ant-...). - Paste into Innoventry or your Claude Desktop MCP configuration.
Provider Comparison Matrix
Compare free tier allowances, paid costs, and setup requirements.
| Provider | Free Tier Available? | Free Allowance | Credit Card Needed? | Estimated Cost for SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Gemini (Recommended) | ✓ Yes, 100% Free Tier | 1,500 requests / day (15 RPM) | No (Zero Card Needed) | ₹0 / month (Free) |
| OpenAI (GPT-4o-mini) | Initial trial credits (varies) | Pay as you go | Yes (International card) | ~₹20 - ₹60 / month |
| Anthropic Claude | $5 credit for new accounts | Pay as you go | Yes (International card) | ~₹50 - ₹150 / month |
Frequently Asked Questions About API Keys
Which Innoventry editions support AI, and is an active AMC required?
All AI features (AI Chat, Bill OCR, and MCP Server) are available starting from Basic Edition onwards (Basic, Personal, Standard, and Premium). An active AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) is required for the software to connect to AI relay endpoints. For yearly subscriptions, AMC is included in the plan; for lifetime licenses, active AMC is maintained via annual renewal.
Will Google automatically charge me when using the free tier?
No. When you generate an API key in Google AI Studio, no credit card is requested. If you ever reach the 1,500 daily requests limit, queries simply pause until the next day unless you explicitly opt in to set up a paid Google Cloud billing account.
Where is my API key stored? Does Innoventry have access to it?
Your secret API key is stored encrypted directly on your local machine. It is used strictly to authenticate outbound requests from your computer to the AI provider. Innoventry never resells or exposes your credentials.
Can I change or revoke my key at any time?
Yes. You can revoke or generate a new key at any moment from Google AI Studio or OpenAI dashboard, and update it in Innoventry Settings with one click.
Ready to Activate AI in Innoventry?
Get your free Google Gemini API key in 2 minutes and experience natural language chat, instant PDF/JPG bill import, and native MCP connectivity.