All PageCrawl.io plans include AI credits that work automatically with no setup required. This guide is for users who want to go beyond their included credits by connecting their own API key for unlimited AI usage, full model choice, and advanced features like Deep Analysis.
When to Use BYOK
Most users won't need BYOK since all plans include AI credits. Consider BYOK if you:
- Run out of credits regularly and need unlimited AI analyses
- Want to choose a specific AI model for different page types
- Need Deep Analysis mode (sends full page content for better context)
- Want to use premium models like GPT-5.3 or Claude Opus 4.6 for critical pages
- Monitor sensitive content and need a specific provider's data policies
You can switch between credits and BYOK at any time in your settings.
Supported Providers and Models
| Provider | Recommended Model | Best For | Get API Key |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | GPT-4o Mini | Best value for most users | platform.openai.com |
| Google Gemini | Gemini 2.5 Flash | Balance of quality and cost | ai.google.dev |
| Anthropic | Claude Haiku 4.5 | Fast and accurate | console.anthropic.com |
| OpenRouter | Any model | Access 200+ models via single API | openrouter.ai |
OpenAI Models
| Model | Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-4o Mini | Most users | Best balance of cost and quality |
| GPT-4.1 | Complex analysis | Most capable, higher cost |
| GPT-4.1 Nano | High volume | Fastest and cheapest |
Google Gemini Models
| Model | Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite | Budget monitoring | Most affordable option |
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | General use | Good balance |
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | Complex tasks | Premium quality |
Anthropic Claude Models
| Model | Use Case | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Haiku 4.5 | Most users | Fast and cost-effective |
| Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Complex tasks | Better quality, higher cost |
| Claude Opus 4.5 | Critical apps | Highest accuracy |
OpenRouter
OpenRouter provides unified access to 200+ AI models from multiple providers through a single API key.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Unified billing | One account for all models |
| Automatic fallbacks | Switches models if one is unavailable |
| Free models | Access to Llama, Mistral, Qwen community models |
| Pricing | 5.5% platform fee on top of base model costs |
Recommended models: openai/gpt-4o-mini, anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5, google/gemini-2.5-flash
Step-by-Step Setup
Step 1: Get Your API Key
| Provider | Steps |
|---|---|
| OpenAI | Visit platform.openai.com > Create account > API Keys > Create new secret key > Add billing |
| Google Gemini | Visit ai.google.dev > Sign in with Google > Create project > Enable Gemini API > Generate API key |
| Anthropic | Visit console.anthropic.com > Create account > API Keys > Create new key > Add credits |
| OpenRouter | Visit openrouter.ai > Create account > Settings > API Key > Add credits |
Step 2: Configure in PageCrawl.io
- Go to Settings > Integrations > AI
- Select your AI provider
- Paste your API key
- Choose your preferred model
- Click Test Connection to verify
- Save your configuration
Your workspace will automatically switch to BYOK mode and AI credits will no longer be consumed.
Step 3: Enable AI Features
Toggle the features you want:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| AI Summarization | Get intelligent summaries of page changes |
| Important Only | Only receive notifications for significant changes |
| Custom Instructions | Add context for better analysis |
| Deep Analysis | Send full page content for better context (BYOK only) |
| Run on First Check | Get AI analysis on initial page check (BYOK only) |
Switching Back to Credits
If you want to stop using your own key and return to included credits:
- Go to Settings > Workspace > AI
- Click Switch to included credits
- Your API key configuration is preserved in case you want to switch back later
Page-Level Configuration
You can customize AI settings at three levels:
| Level | Applies To | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Workspace default | All pages | General settings |
| Template override | Pages using that template | Grouped pages (e.g., all product pages) |
| Page override | Individual pages | Critical or special pages |
Example strategy:
- Workspace default: Gemini Flash-Lite (cheapest)
- E-commerce template: GPT-4o Mini (best value)
- Legal/ToS template: Claude Haiku 4.5 (high accuracy)
- Critical contracts: Claude Sonnet 4.5 (premium)
Model Selection Guidelines
By Priority
| Priority | Recommended Models |
|---|---|
| Cost optimization | Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite, GPT-4o Mini |
| Accuracy | GPT-4.1, Claude Sonnet 4.5 |
| Speed | Claude Haiku 4.5, GPT-4o Mini |
| Complex content | Claude Sonnet 4.5, GPT-4.1 |
By Page Complexity
For most pages, a general-purpose model provides excellent results at a lower cost:
| Model | Provider | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.5 Flash | General monitoring, good balance of speed and quality | |
| GPT-4o Mini | OpenAI | Reliable all-around performance |
For complex pages that require deeper analysis or more reasoning (e.g., dense legal documents, technical specifications, multi-section reports), choose a more powerful model:
| Model | Provider | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini 2.5 Pro | Complex documents requiring extended reasoning | |
| GPT-4.1 | OpenAI | Nuanced analysis and detailed comparisons |
| Claude Opus 4.5 | Anthropic | Critical documents requiring highest accuracy |
Tip: Start with a general-purpose model and upgrade to a more powerful one if you notice the AI missing important changes or providing superficial summaries.
By Content Type
| Content Type | Budget | Recommended | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blogs, News | Gemini Flash-Lite | GPT-4o Mini | - |
| E-commerce | Gemini Flash-Lite | GPT-4o Mini | Claude Haiku 4.5 |
| Legal, ToS | Claude Haiku 4.5 | Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Claude Sonnet 4.5 |
| API Docs | Gemini Flash-Lite | GPT-4o Mini | - |
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