How to get an AI API key for CVumi (Anthropic, OpenAI, Grok, Perplexity)

To use CVumi you bring one thing: an AI API key from a provider you choose. That is the whole idea behind CVumi. You supply the key, CVumi uses it to write and tailor your CV, cover letter and emails, and the provider bills you directly for what you use. There is no CVumi subscription on top of the AI, and no markup on the tokens.

You need one key from one provider. Not all four below, just the one you prefer. This guide shows you where to get a key from Anthropic, OpenAI, xAI or Perplexity, and how to paste it into CVumi once you have it. Start to finish, it takes a few minutes.

Why CVumi asks for your own key

Most AI resume tools bundle the model into a monthly fee and send every request through their own account. CVumi works the other way around. Because the request runs on your key, your text goes only to the provider you picked, under your own account and their data policy, not pooled through a vendor key you cannot see.

You also see the real price. You pay the provider for exactly what you use, usually a small amount per document, and you can set a spending cap or revoke the key whenever you want. One key is enough to start. You can add another later if you want to compare providers.

Which provider should you pick?

If you already have an account with one of these providers, start there. It is the quickest path and one less password to keep. If you are starting fresh, any of the four will write a good CV. Anthropic's Claude and OpenAI's models are the most widely used for this kind of writing. xAI's Grok is a fair choice if you already use X. Perplexity suits you if you also lean on its answers elsewhere. You are not locked in, since the key lives in your settings and you can swap it any time.

Get a key from your provider

Pick one provider and follow its steps. Opening an account is free. You pay only for the AI you actually use, so add a payment method when the provider asks for one.

Anthropic (Claude)

1. Go to console.anthropic.com and sign in, or create an account.
2. Open API Keys from the menu.
3. Click Create Key, give it a name such as CVumi, and confirm.
4. Copy the key. It starts with sk-ant-.
5. Open Billing and add a payment method so the key can make requests.

OpenAI (ChatGPT)

1. Go to platform.openai.com and sign in.
2. Open the API keys page.
3. Click Create new secret key, name it, and confirm.
4. Copy the key. It starts with sk-. OpenAI shows it once, so copy it now.
5. Add billing under your account settings. OpenAI requires it before the key will work.

xAI (Grok)

1. Go to console.x.ai and sign in.
2. Open API Keys.
3. Create a key and copy it. It starts with xai-.

Perplexity

1. Go to perplexity.ai and open Settings.
2. Find the API section.
3. Generate a key and copy it. It starts with pplx-.

A note on copying: Anthropic and OpenAI show the full key only once. If you lose it, delete that key in the console and create a new one. There is no way to view it again.

Paste the key into CVumi

1. Open CVumi and go to Settings.
2. Paste your key into the API key field. CVumi reads the prefix and detects the provider for you: sk-ant- is Anthropic, sk- is OpenAI, xai- is xAI, and pplx- is Perplexity.
3. Choose a model, or leave the default. The default is a sensible balance of quality and cost.
4. Save. Your next CV or letter runs on your own key.

Your key is stored on your device, not on a CVumi server. Keep it private, the way you would a password. If it ever leaks, revoke it in the provider's console and paste a fresh one.

Quality and cost differ, so try a couple

Here is the honest part. The four providers are not the same, and neither are the models within each one. They differ in writing style, in how closely they follow instructions, and in price. A model that writes a sharp cover letter for one person can feel too formal for another. A cheaper model may be fine for a first draft and weaker on a final polish.

So treat your first few documents as a short test. Run the same CV through a model or two, read the results with your own eye, and keep the one that fits your budget and your taste. Because you pay the provider directly, the cost is visible as you go, with no subscription to remember to cancel.

Start with your first application

That is the whole setup: one provider, one key, pasted into Settings. Download CVumi, add your key, and tailor your first application on your own machine, with the model you chose, in a few minutes.