Build with your API key
Build a website with your OpenAI API key
Facts last verified: . Provider pricing and free tiers change — check their site for current numbers.
Yes — you can build a complete website with your own OpenAI API key. Create a key at platform.openai.com, paste it into OpenThorn (free, encrypted server-side), describe your site, and the agent generates, previews, and deploys it. You pay OpenAI's published per-token rates directly — typically cents to a few dollars per site.
Get your key
Official pricing
Free tier
No free API tier — OpenAI requires prepaid credit (minimum $5), which doubles as a hard spend cap.
Recommended models
- GPT-5.5 — Flagship model — strongest reasoning and code quality for complex, multi-page sites.
- GPT-5.4 — Excellent quality at a lower price; a solid default for most websites.
- GPT-5.4 mini — Fast and cheap — good for simple sites and quick iterations.
How to build your website
- Create an OpenAI API keySign in at platform.openai.com, add at least $5 of prepaid credit, and create a new secret key under API keys. Copy it immediately — it is shown only once.
- Set a spend limitIn the OpenAI billing settings, set a monthly budget so usage can never exceed what you choose to prepay.
- Connect the key to OpenThornSign up free at openthorn.app, open the Providers page, choose OpenAI, and paste your key. It is encrypted server-side with AES-256-GCM and never exposed raw.
- Describe your website and ship itCreate a project, pick a GPT model, and describe the site in plain language. Preview it live in the browser, iterate conversationally, then deploy to Netlify or export the source.
What it costs
With GPT-5.4 mini, a typical landing page costs a few cents in tokens; with GPT-5.5, expect roughly $0.50–$3 per complete site depending on size and revisions. Check OpenAI's pricing page for current per-token rates.
Common questions
How much does it cost to build a website with the OpenAI API?
You pay OpenAI's per-token rates only — OpenThorn adds no markup and no subscription. A typical site costs cents with GPT-5.4 mini and roughly $0.50–$3 with GPT-5.5, versus $20–50/month for credit-based AI builders.
Is my OpenAI API key safe in OpenThorn?
Keys are encrypted server-side with AES-256-GCM using per-user derived keys and are never exposed raw to the browser. You can also set a spend limit in your OpenAI dashboard and rotate or revoke the key at any time.
Which OpenAI model should I pick for website generation?
GPT-5.4 is the best default: near-flagship code quality at a lower price. Use GPT-5.5 for complex multi-page sites with custom logic, and GPT-5.4 mini when speed and minimal cost matter more than polish.
New here? Read how to build a website with AI using your own key, how to get an AI API key, or compare model pricing. Other providers: Anthropic · Google Gemini · DeepSeek · Mistral AI · Groq · Together AI · xAI · Cohere · Perplexity · OpenRouter · Ollama · Fireworks AI · Cerebras · Azure OpenAI · Amazon Bedrock · NVIDIA NIM