01 / FOUR THINGS TO KNOW
What does an API call need?
Every tool needs the same four building blocks. Understanding them makes setup and troubleshooting much easier.
Zivv account
Used to add balance, create keys, review usage, and manage billing.
API key
A credential beginning with sk-. It represents your account, so never publish or share it.
API endpoint
OpenAI-compatible tools normally use https://zivv.pro/v1; Claude Code uses https://zivv.pro.
Model name
The model determines capability, speed, and cost. Copy a current name from Model Hub.
02 / CHOOSE A MODEL
Choose for the task, not by price alone
Models change quickly. Treat Model Hub as the source for current names and pricing, then adjust based on your own results.
Claude
Claude Code, complex coding, long documents
Start with a Claude Sonnet model for coding; move to a stronger option only when the task needs it.
GPT
Codex, OpenAI SDKs, general tasks
Choose a current GPT model for OpenAI-compatible tools and broad everyday work.
Gemini
Long context, images, multimodal input
Choose Gemini when you need to process large source material or mixed text and images.
03 / CREATE A KEY
Get ready in four steps
Create an API key
Open API Keys and name the key after its purpose so usage stays easy to track.
Create key →Treat every API key like a password
Never put a key in a public repository, screenshot, chat, or browser application. If exposure is possible, delete it and create a new one immediately.
04 / MAKE YOUR FIRST CALL
Choose how you want to connect
These options use the same Zivv account, but their endpoint settings differ.
Claude Code
Choose a Claude-compatible group when creating the key, set these two environment variables, reopen your terminal, and start Claude Code.
export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=https://zivv.pro export ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN=sk-your-key
Commands differ between Windows PowerShell, macOS, and Linux. Use the full guide for your operating system.
Claude Code setup guide →05 / TROUBLESHOOTING
Four common problems
401Invalid key
Check for missing characters or spaces and confirm the key still exists. Your account password is not an API key.
404Wrong endpoint or model
OpenAI tools normally need /v1; Claude Code does not. Copy the exact model name from Model Hub.
429Request temporarily limited
Reduce concurrency and retry later. If it continues, check the status page or contact support.
BalanceCalls have stopped
Check account balance and key limits, then review Usage to see whether the latest request was recorded.
Still stuck? Send support the time, tool, model name, and error message, but never send your complete API key.
Contact support →06 / FAQ
Before you start
Do I need a separate key for every model?
Usually not. A key can call multiple models allowed by its group and permissions. The exact range depends on the settings used when creating it.
How much balance should I add?
Start small and test your real workload. Confirm model quality, speed, and cost before adding more.
Why can I sign in on the web but get a 401 in my tool?
Website sign-in and API keys are different credentials. Use the sk- key created on the API Keys page, not your account password.
Can I put my key in a browser application?
Do not put a private key in public frontend code. Use secure local storage for personal tools, and separate keys and limits for team members.
Make your first API call now
Create one key and test a small, real task. Once it works, tune the model and spending limits from actual usage.