# A separate OpenRouter key for a client's workspace

> Give a workspace its own OpenRouter key, or let your client add theirs, so the AI for that workspace's Chirps is billed to their OpenRouter account.

Source: https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/business-teams/client-keys  
Plans: Creator, Business, Academy  
Last checked: 2026-10-27

When you're done, a workspace's Chirps answer with their own [OpenRouter](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/start-here/glossary#openrouter) key, and the AI they use is
billed to that key's OpenRouter account.

**Who can do this:** the account owner, for any workspace except the main one (so on Creator, Business
and Academy, which have more than one). Anyone the owner shared that workspace with can also add their
own key there: workspace admins, editors and viewers. They don't need a plan of their own.

## How it works

Each workspace except the main one has room for one OpenRouter key. Without one, its Chirps use your
account's key (in **AI provider: OpenRouter**). With one, every chat with that workspace's Chirps uses it:
visitors, Chirps on websites, previews and Academy tutors. If the workspace's key stops working, its
Chirps don't switch to your account's key; they stop answering until the key is fixed.

The account still needs a Chirp Builder plan. The key only pays OpenRouter for the AI. See
[What OpenRouter is, and who pays for what](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/openrouter/what-is-openrouter).

## Add a key to a workspace (account owner)

1. Open **Settings** and find **Workspaces**.
2. Click the key button next to the client's workspace (1). It says "Give this workspace its own
   OpenRouter key, for example a client's key, so its Chirps bill that account. Without one, it uses the
   key in AI provider above."
3. Paste the key (it starts with sk-or-) and click **Check & save** (2). Chirp Builder checks it with
   OpenRouter first: "Key connected".

![Priya's workspaces with the key button of Harbor Dental (1) opened: the note that a workspace can have its own OpenRouter key, for example a client's, so its Chirps bill that account, the box for the key, and Check & save (2).](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/business-teams/client-keys/SS-TEAM-020-01__owner-key__business__detail__v01.webp?v=d1a403c4bc)

Under the workspace's name you then see "own OpenRouter key ending in" and its last four characters.
Workspaces without a key say "uses your account's OpenRouter key".

- **To replace it,** paste a new key and click **Check & save** again.
- **To remove it,** click **Remove** and confirm "Remove this workspace's key? Its Chirps will use your
  account's key." You see "Key removed".

## Add your own key (client or team member)

If someone shared a workspace with you and you'd rather pay for its AI yourself:

1. Switch to that workspace with the **Workspace** box at the top of the menu, and open **Settings**.
2. In **AI billing for this workspace**, paste your OpenRouter key.
3. Tick the box (1). It reads, for example: "I authorize Priya Shah to use my OpenRouter key for the
   Chirps in the "Harbor Dental" workspace. AI usage there is charged to my OpenRouter account. I can
   remove the key at any time."
4. Click **Check & save my key** (2): "Your key is connected".

![AI billing for this workspace in Omar's Settings, in Priya's shared workspace Harbor Dental: Chirps in Harbor Dental use Priya Shah's OpenRouter key, the box for his own key, the ticked permission I authorize Priya Shah to use my OpenRouter key for the Chirps in the Harbor Dental workspace (1), and Check & save my key (2).](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/business-teams/client-keys/SS-TEAM-020-02__member-key__business__detail__v01.webp?v=71d123cc66)

Your permission is saved with the key and the time you gave it. The owner never sees your key, only its
last four characters and "added by" your name "with their permission".

To stop paying, click **Remove** next to your key and confirm "Remove your key? This workspace's Chirps
will use …'s key again." You see "Your key was removed". You can only remove a key you added.

In the owner's main workspace you see "This is …'s main workspace, so it always uses their OpenRouter
key.", and there's no box for a key.

## Good to know

- **One key per workspace.** A new key replaces the one before, whoever added it. If your client's key
  replaced yours and they remove it later, the workspace goes back to your account's key, not to the key
  you had added.
- **A team member's key leaves with them.** When they leave your team, you remove them, or you take
  that workspace away from them, the key they added is deleted.
- **Deleting a workspace** deletes its key too.
- **Handing a workspace over:** a key you added stays behind. A key your client added as a team member
  goes with the workspace if they accept it as a new workspace. See
  [Hand a workspace over to a client](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/business-teams/hand-over).
- **Moving a Chirp** to another workspace switches it to that workspace's key, or your account's key.
- **No credit yet:** the key is saved, with "Key saved, but the OpenRouter account needs credit before
  these Chirps can answer." (a team member sees "your OpenRouter account").
- **Status:** next to the key: **Connected**, **Invalid key**, **Insufficient credits** or **Connection
  error**. It updates when a key is saved and when a chat runs into a problem. The dashboard's key
  warnings are about your account's key only; on Business, an
  [event webhook](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/business-teams/event-webhooks) can tell you when a workspace key stops working.
- **Cost:** Analytics shows what each workspace's Chirps cost, whichever key paid. Everyone in the
  workspace sees it, viewers included.

## If it doesn't work

- **"That doesn't look like an OpenRouter key"** Copy the whole key again, without spaces.
- **"OpenRouter doesn't recognize this key. It may have been deleted or typed wrong."** or **"OpenRouter
  didn't accept this key. Check it and try again."**
- **"Couldn't reach OpenRouter to check this key. Try again in a minute."**
- **"Tick the box to give your permission first."**
- **"The account's main workspace always uses the owner's key."** (for team members) or **"The main
  workspace uses the OpenRouter key in Settings."** (for the owner)
- **"Could not save the key"**
- In the preview, team members see **"This workspace's OpenRouter key isn't working anymore. Replace it
  under AI billing for this workspace in Settings, or ask the account owner."** or **"This workspace's
  OpenRouter key has no credit left to use: the account behind it may be out of credit, or the key's own
  credit limit may be used up. Fix it at openrouter.ai, or ask the account owner."**
- The owner sees **"This workspace's OpenRouter key isn't working anymore. Replace it in Settings >
  Workspaces, with the key button on the workspace's row."** or **"This workspace's OpenRouter key has
  no credit left to use: the account behind it may be out of credit, or the key's own credit limit may be
  used up. Fix it at openrouter.ai, then try again."**