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How to Get an OpenAI API Key

An OpenAI API key lets TextPilot generate text and captions using AI inside After Effects. Setup takes about 3 minutes.

Which plugins use this?

TextPilot
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OpenAI API is pay-as-you-go

Unlike GIPHY, the OpenAI API has usage-based pricing. Text generation with GPT-4o-mini costs roughly $0.15 per 1M input tokens. Typical TextPilot usage (generating titles, captions, descriptions) costs pennies per month. You set your own spending limit in your OpenAI account.

Step-by-step guide

1
Create an OpenAI account

Visit platform.openai.com and create an account (or sign in if you have one).

2
Add a payment method

Go to Billing and add a credit card. You can set a monthly spending limit (e.g., $5/month) to avoid surprises.

3
Generate an API key

Go to API Keys and click Create new secret key.

  • Name it anything (e.g., "Filmit TextPilot")
  • Copy the key immediately — OpenAI won't show it again
4
Paste it into your Filmit account

Go to API Keys in your account settings (or Settings in Filmit Studio) and paste the key into the TextPilot / OpenAI field. Hit Save.

Done!

Your OpenAI key syncs across all your devices. Open TextPilot in After Effects and start generating text with AI.

Common questions

How much does it cost?

Very little. TextPilot uses GPT-4o-mini which costs about $0.15 per million input tokens. Generating a few hundred titles or captions per month typically costs under $1. Set a spending cap in your OpenAI dashboard to stay in control.

Is there a free tier?

OpenAI occasionally offers free trial credits for new accounts. Check their pricing page for current offers.

Can I use the same key for ChatGPT?

The API key and ChatGPT subscription are separate. You need an API key from platform.openai.com, not a ChatGPT Plus subscription.

What if I lose my key?

Generate a new one from the OpenAI API Keys page and update it in your Filmit account. The old key can be revoked from the same page.