Guide
How to get an Anthropic API key
Anthropic makes Claude, the AI that powers Ray. You need an API key so Ray can talk to Claude on your behalf. Takes about 5 minutes.
Create an Anthropic account
Head to the Anthropic console and sign up with your email or Google account. No credit card needed to create the account.
console.anthropic.com →Add a payment method
Go to Settings → Billing and add a credit card. Claude API usage is pay-as-you-go. A typical Ray session costs a few cents — most people spend $1–3/month.
Generate your API key
Go to Settings → API Keys and click "Create Key". Give it a name like "ray" and copy the key. You'll only see it once.
Paste it into Ray
Run ray setup and paste your key when prompted. Ray stores it locally in an encrypted config file — it never leaves your machine.
Skip the setup?
If you don't want to manage your own API key, the $10/mo Ray Pro plan includes AI access. Just run ray setup, pick "Ray Pro", and pay $10/mo — no API key needed. You can also use OpenAI, Ollama, or any OpenAI-compatible provider instead of Anthropic.