How to Get an OpenAI API Key for Linkilo

Why you need this

Linkilo’s AI Suggestions, topic clusters and chat assistant run on an AI provider you pay directly. OpenAI is the default provider. You bring your own OpenAI key — OpenAI charges you for usage, separate from your Linkilo subscription, and Linkilo never sees your bill. This keeps your API costs transparent and lets you scale up or down as your site grows.

Step-by-step

1. Go to platform.openai.com and sign in (or sign up)
2. Open the API keys page in your account settings
3. Click Create new secret key
4. Give the key a name like “Linkilo” so you can recognize it later
5. Create the key
6. Copy the key immediately — OpenAI only shows it once. If you lose it, you have to generate a new one.

Add the key to Linkilo

1. In your WordPress admin go to Linkilo → Manage → Settings and click AI Settings in the left navigation (under Smart Linking).
2. In step card 1 — Connect an AI provider, leave AI Provider on OpenAI (the default) and paste the key into the OpenAI API Key field. The key is stored encrypted; the field shows only the last characters after saving.
3. Click Save Settings at the bottom of the page.
4. Click Test Core Provider. It confirms the key works and that the selected model is available on your account. The card’s status pill turns green when the test passes.

If you later want to remove the key from Linkilo, click Revoke API Key next to the field (this doesn’t delete the key at OpenAI).

Keep spending under control

• Linkilo’s own caps. Step card 2 — Choose models and spending limits has AI Monthly Guardrails: a Request cap, an Estimated cost cap ($) and an Unpriced request cap. New installs default to 1,000 requests and $25 per month; when a cap is reached, AI work pauses until the next month. Leave the recommended model (GPT-5.6 Luna) unless Test Core Provider says it is unavailable.
• Watch the AI Usage Meter at the top of the AI tab for this month’s requests, tokens and estimated provider spend.
• Set a usage limit at OpenAI too (OpenAI → Settings → Billing → Usage limits) so you never get a surprise bill.
• Add a payment method in OpenAI before testing — the API rejects requests if billing isn’t set up, even with a valid key.
• Start small. Open one article and request AI suggestions, or use Build Recommended Queue on the AI Suggestions page (5 posts), before processing your whole site.

Last reviewed for Linkilo 3.0.0 (October 2026).