How to Get a Free AI API Key for Resume Tailoring

StructuredCV's Free plan runs on your own AI key: you create a free account with an AI provider, copy a key and paste it into the app. This guide covers three providers with free options (OpenRouter, Google AI Studio and Groq), how to set each one up, what free models trade away, and how to keep your key safe.

What is an AI API key, and why does the Free plan need one?

An API key is a long, secret code that lets an app send requests to an AI provider on your account. On the Free plan, StructuredCV uses your key for its AI steps, so the provider's free tier covers the AI cost instead of a subscription.

Here's how the key moves. StructuredCV saves it in your browser, along with your resumes, Fact Bank and application pipeline. When you run an AI step, the key is sent with that request to StructuredCV's server, which forwards the request to your provider. The server doesn't store your key or the content of the request.

The Free plan includes 50 tailored resumes a month, the Fact Bank, PDF, DOCX and LaTeX export, cover letters and the application pipeline. It accepts keys from OpenRouter, Google Gemini, Groq, OpenAI, Anthropic or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint. OpenAI and Anthropic keys are typically pay-as-you-go, so this guide focuses on the three providers with free options.

Which free provider should you choose?

Start with OpenRouter if you want the simplest setup, since it's StructuredCV's default provider. Add Google AI Studio or Groq as a second option for when OpenRouter's free models are busy.

At the time of writing, OpenRouter allows about 50 free-model requests a day on an account that hasn't bought credits, and about 1,000 a day once you've bought $10 of credit. One tailored resume uses about 3 to 5 requests, so a free account covers roughly 10 to 16 tailorings a day. All three providers change their limits from time to time, so check each one's current limits page before you count on a number.

How do you get an OpenRouter key?

Create a free account at OpenRouter, open the API keys page in your account settings, create a key and copy it. You don't need to buy credit to use the free models.

1. Go to openrouter.ai and sign up with one of the sign-in options it offers.
2. Open your account menu and find the API keys page.
3. Create a new key and give it a name you'll recognize, such as "StructuredCV."
4. Copy the key right away and keep it somewhere private. Providers often show the full key only once.

How do you get a Google Gemini key?

Sign in to Google AI Studio with a Google account, open its API key section, create a key and copy it.

1. Go to aistudio.google.com and sign in with your Google account.
2. Accept the terms if you're asked to.
3. Open the API key section and create a key. Google may ask you to choose or create a Google Cloud project; the default is fine.
4. Copy the key.

If you ever turn on billing for that project, read Google's pricing page first, because the paid tier is charged per use and comes with different terms.

How do you get a Groq key?

Create a free account in the Groq console, open the API keys page, create a key and copy it.

1. Go to console.groq.com and sign up.
2. Open the API keys page from the console menu.
3. Create a key, name it "StructuredCV" or similar, and copy it.

Groq sets its free limits per model, with caps on requests and tokens over time. It publishes the current numbers in its console and documentation, so check there if you start seeing errors.

How do you add your key to StructuredCV?

Open the app, go to Settings, choose your provider, paste the key and save. The whole thing takes about a minute.

1. Open the StructuredCV app.
2. Go to Settings and find the AI provider section.
3. Choose OpenRouter, Google Gemini or Groq.
4. Paste your key into the API key field.
5. Leave the model field empty to use the app's default for that provider, or type a specific model ID if you have one in mind.
6. Save your settings, then run a tailoring to check that it works.

To switch providers later, choose a different one in Settings and paste that provider's key. Because the key is stored locally, you'll need to add it again on a new browser or device, or after clearing your browser data.

What are the trade-offs of free AI models?

Free models cost nothing, but they're often slower, less consistent and sometimes unavailable, and their limits can change. For occasional use that's usually fine; for a heavy week of applications, plan around it.

• Speed and availability. Free models share capacity with many users, so responses can be slow or fail at busy times. Wait and retry, or switch providers.
• Quality. Free models can follow instructions less precisely. StructuredCV reverts any rewritten bullet that names a required tool missing from your Fact Bank, and by default its skills section only lists Fact Bank skills, but read every line before you send a resume.
• Rate limits. At 3 to 5 requests per tailoring, a daily cap goes faster than you might expect. If you hit one, wait for the reset or switch to another provider.
• Changing terms. Free tiers, limits and model lists change. If something stops working, check the provider's limits page first.

How do you keep your API key safe?

Treat it like a password: never share it, and revoke it if you think it's been exposed. Anyone with your key can use up your limits or any credit on the account.

• Don't paste it into emails, chats, screenshots, shared documents or code you publish.
• Create a separate, clearly named key for each app, so you can revoke one without breaking the others.
• If a key may have leaked, delete it in the provider's dashboard and create a new one.
• On a shared or public computer, remove the key from StructuredCV's Settings when you're done, since it's saved in that browser.
• If you add paid credit to an account, use the provider's spending or credit limits where they're offered.

Can you use StructuredCV without an API key?

Yes, on Pro. Pro costs $5 a month or $48 a year and includes built-in StructuredCV AI, so there's no key to create or manage.

Pro comes with 500 AI credits a month, and a tailored resume costs 5 credits. It also adds interview practice, outreach, strategy and other career tools. See plans and pricing for the details. Once your key or Pro plan is set up, follow our guide on how to tailor your resume to a job description.