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The 6 Easiest Ways to Use an AI API Key (No Cursor Required)
Most guides assume you'll use your AI API key inside a code editor like Cursor. But if you just want to chat with top models — or you found Cursor's setup fiddly — there are far easier tools. Every app below speaks the OpenAI-compatible standard: give it three values and you're running.
The three values every tool needs
- Base URL — your gateway endpoint, e.g.
https://www.superbapi.com/v1 - API key — e.g. a
sk-sbapi-…key from your SuperbAPI workspace - Model id — e.g.
claude-fable-5,grok-4, ormodels/gemini-2.5-flash(copy exact ids from the Models page)
1. Chatbox — the fastest start (Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android)
Chatbox is a free desktop/mobile chat app. Settings → Model Provider → Add Custom Provider → choose OpenAI API Compatible, paste the base URL and key, type the model id. Done in under two minutes, no account needed.
2. Cherry Studio — power features, still simple (desktop)
Cherry Studio adds assistants, knowledge bases, and multi-model side-by-side chat. Settings → Model Services → Add Provider → type OpenAI, set the base URL and key, then add your model ids. Great when you want one app for several models.
3. Open WebUI — self-hosted, team-friendly
Open WebUI runs in Docker and gives your whole team a ChatGPT-style interface on your own key: docker run -d -p 3000:8080 -e OPENAI_API_BASE_URL=https://www.superbapi.com/v1 -e OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-sbapi-… ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:main. One shared wallet, per-user chats.
4. LibreChat — the open-source ChatGPT clone
LibreChat feels closest to ChatGPT itself. Add a custom endpoint in librechat.yaml with the same base URL + key, list the model ids you want, and it handles conversations, presets, and search.
5. Msty — local-first, zero config anxiety
Msty is a polished desktop app aimed at non-technical users. Add a Remote Model Provider → OpenAI Compatible, paste the two values, pick your model. It also runs local models, so you can mix free local + paid API in one place.
6. Ten lines of code — when you outgrow chat apps
Any OpenAI SDK works by changing one line:
| Language | The one change |
|---|---|
| Python | OpenAI(base_url="https://www.superbapi.com/v1", api_key="sk-sbapi-…") |
| Node.js | new OpenAI({ baseURL: "https://www.superbapi.com/v1", apiKey: "sk-sbapi-…" }) |
| curl | curl …/v1/chat/completions -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-sbapi-…" |
Which should you pick?
| You want… | Use |
|---|---|
| Chat in 2 minutes, no code | Chatbox |
| Assistants + knowledge bases | Cherry Studio |
| A shared UI for a team | Open WebUI or LibreChat |
| Local + cloud models together | Msty |
| To build a product | The SDK |
SuperbAPI is an independent aggregator and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with any model owner. Third-party product names are used nominatively to describe compatibility and routing. Comparisons reflect our understanding at publication and may change.