BYO keys vs managed inference: how HIIE billing works
HIIE has two ways to pay for the AI that powers your projects, and you choose which one applies to you. The core idea: bring your own provider API keys and HIIE is free.
Bring your own keys (free)
If you add your own OpenRouter (and optionally Composio) API key, models run on your account and HIIE charges you nothing. Your keys are encrypted at rest and used server-side only — they are never returned to your browser. An active OpenRouter BYO key flags your account as "byo", so your runs are unmetered: they appear in your ledger as $0 and do not draw down any managed capacity.
Managed inference (credits)
If you'd rather not manage keys, HIIE can route your prompts to models through OpenRouter on managed infrastructure. This is metered with credits. You get a monthly credit grant from your plan, and you can buy one-time top-ups. Credits are only consumed when you use HIIE-managed infrastructure — never when you're on your own key.
Which should you pick?
- BYO if you already have an OpenRouter key and want the full engine at $0.
- Managed if you want to skip key setup and pay a simple subscription or top-up.
You can mix as needed — adding a key at any time switches your runs to unmetered. Billing checkout for plans and top-ups runs through Stripe; HIIE never stores your payment card.