Where to Get Anthropic API Keys

Overview

To use Claude models (Claude 4.6 Opus, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, etc.) with AgentClaw, you need an API key from Anthropic.

Step 1: Create Anthropic Account

Go to console.anthropic.com
Click "Sign Up"
Enter your email and create password
Verify your email address
Complete organization setup

Step 2: Add Credits

Anthropic uses a prepaid credit system:

In the console, go to "Billing"
Click "Add Credits"
Enter amount ($10 minimum recommended)
Add payment method
Complete purchase

Note: Credits don't expire. Enable auto-reload to avoid interruptions.

Step 3: Create API Key

Navigate to "API Keys" in the console
Click "Create Key"
Give your key a name (e.g., "AgentClaw Bot")
Click "Create Key"
Important: Copy the key immediately - you won't see it again!

Step 4: Add Key to AgentClaw

Go to your AgentClaw instance configuration
Add environment variable:
- Name: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
- Value: Paste your key (starts with sk-ant-)
Optionally set model:
```
AI_MODEL=claude-4.5-sonnet
```
Save and restart instance

Available Claude Models

claude-4.6-opus: Most capable, best for complex reasoning (~$0.015/$0.075 per 1K tokens)
claude-4.5-sonnet: Balanced performance and cost (~$0.003/$0.015 per 1K tokens)
claude-4.5-haiku: Fast and cost-effective (~$0.00025/$0.00125 per 1K tokens)

Check anthropic.com/pricing for current rates.

Managing Credits and Usage

Monitoring Usage

Go to "Usage" in Anthropic Console
View credit balance and daily usage
See breakdown by model
Export usage reports

Auto-Reload

Prevent service interruptions:

Go to "Billing"
Enable "Auto-reload"
Set threshold (e.g., reload when balance < $10)
Set reload amount

Budget Alerts

Set up email notifications for low balance
Monitor daily to avoid surprises

Best Practices

Start small: Begin with $10-20 to test
Enable auto-reload: Prevents service interruption
Use different keys for different projects: Easier tracking
Never commit keys to code: Keep them secure
Rotate keys periodically: Every few months for security
Monitor daily: Check usage regularly

Revoking Keys

If a key is compromised:

Go to "API Keys" in console
Find the compromised key
Click "Delete"
Create a new key
Update AgentClaw configuration
Restart instance

Troubleshooting

"Invalid API key" Error

Verify key starts with sk-ant-
Check for extra spaces
Ensure key hasn't been deleted in console

"Insufficient credits" Error

Check balance in Anthropic Console
Add more credits
Enable auto-reload

Rate Limiting

Anthropic has tier-based rate limits
Higher usage = higher tier automatically
OpenClaw handles retries automatically

Free Credits

New Anthropic accounts may receive promotional credits. Check your billing page for available credits.