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 Cloudflare Pages 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 · RodiumAi