mysnipbox

Models & Setup

AI providers & API keys

Create an API key for Gemini, OpenAI or Anthropic and connect it to mysnipbox.

mysnipbox uses your own AI provider account (BYOK, Bring Your Own Key). Create an API key with one of the providers below and paste it into the app. You only need one; if you're not sure which, start with Google Gemini.

Google Gemini (recommended)

Why Gemini Flash

  • Fast: Flash models are built for speed, which suits image decomposition.
  • Free tier: you can start without adding a card (within rate limits).
  • Low cost: Flash costs a fraction of flagship models, so a large library stays affordable.
  • Tuned for it: mysnipbox is built around the Gemini API. The Free Tier plan keeps requests under Google's per-minute limit, and the Auto model deals with busy or retired models for you.

Get an API key

  1. 1Open Google AI Studio and sign in with your Google account.
  2. 2Click Get API key in the left menu, then Create API key.
  3. 3Choose an existing Google Cloud project, or let AI Studio create one for you.
  4. 4Copy the key (it usually starts with AIza).
  5. 5In mysnipbox, open Settings → AI Settings → Vision Providers, choose Google Gemini, paste the key, pick the Free Tier plan if it's a free key, and leave the model on Auto (recommended).
What it looks like in the app: a saved key, the Free Tier plan and the model on Auto.

Why we recommend the Auto model

Gemini models get busy, hit limits and are retired over time. With the model on Auto, mysnipbox handles it for you:

  • A busy model (503): moves on to the next recommended model at once and lets the busy one rest for 5 minutes.
  • A model that's unavailable or out of free quota: it's skipped, so one dead end doesn't stop the batch.
  • The per-minute limit (429): the app waits and retries instead of hammering your key, and the Free Tier plan analyzes 2 images at a time to stay under it.
  • New and retired models: the recommended list is updated without an app update, so you don't have to chase model names.

OpenAI

  1. 1Sign in at platform.openai.com (the API platform, not ChatGPT).
  2. 2Open Billing, add a payment method and buy prepaid credits. API usage is billed separately from any ChatGPT subscription.
  3. 3Open API keys and click Create new secret key.
  4. 4Copy the key right away, because it's only shown once (it starts with sk-).
  5. 5In mysnipbox, open Settings, choose OpenAI, and paste the key.

Anthropic (Claude)

  1. 1Sign in at console.anthropic.com (the developer console, not claude.ai).
  2. 2Open Plans & Billing and buy credits. API usage is billed separately from a Claude subscription.
  3. 3Open API Keys, click Create Key, and give it a name.
  4. 4Copy the key right away, because it's only shown once (it starts with sk-ant-).
  5. 5In mysnipbox, open Settings, choose Anthropic, and paste the key.

How your API key is protected

  • Your key is stored only in your device's OS keychain (macOS Keychain / Windows Credential Manager).
  • It is never sent to mysnipbox servers. We don't run any server that receives it.
  • Requests go directly from your device to the provider you chose, with no proxy in between.
  • mysnipbox adds no mark-up: you pay the provider's own rates.

Key hygiene

  • Never paste your key into chats, screenshots, or public repos.
  • If a key leaks, revoke it in the provider's dashboard and create a new one.
  • Use a separate key for mysnipbox so you can revoke it without affecting other tools.