BYOK · 6 min read
BYOK AI coding: what it means, what it costs, and when to use a hosted agent
By Caide · Published 2026-10-29
BYOK means you connect your own model provider account or API key instead of buying inference from the app vendor. It changes who bills you, which models you can use, and how much of your data passes through a third party.
How BYOK billing works
With BYOK, the provider bills you directly for tokens. The app does not add a per-token markup, and it does not need to resell inference. That is why Caide can offer BYOK free forever: there is no inference cost for Caide to recover.
The tradeoff is that you manage provider accounts, keys, and limits. If a key leaks, you rotate it with the provider. If a model is deprecated, you change the model in the app.
What Caide supports
- OpenRouter — one key for many frontier and open models.
- OpenCode Console — OpenCode's managed catalog, also the upstream for Caide Agent.
- Caide Agent — optional hosted plan, no provider key required.
- ChatGPT/Codex — use your existing ChatGPT account login.
- Claude Code — use your official Claude Code login and CLI session.
- DeepSeek — direct API access for DeepSeek models.
- Google Gemini — direct API access for Gemini models.
Where keys live
In Caide, BYOK keys are stored locally in the desktop app's encrypted credential store. BYOK requests go directly from your machine to the provider. Caide does not proxy them, and it does not meter them.
Caide Agent is the exception. It uses a Caide account and is proxied through Caide's cloud gateway to OpenCode Console. The Console key stays on the server. Caide records aggregate usage counts (requests, tokens, cost) but does not store prompts or generated code.
When the hosted agent makes sense
A hosted agent is useful when you do not want to create provider accounts, when you want one predictable bill, or when you are onboarding someone who should not manage keys. Caide Agent costs ₦3,000 for 30 days after a 7-day / 500-credit trial. If you already have provider credits and are comfortable managing keys, BYOK is cheaper and more flexible.
Security checklist
- Use a dedicated key per tool so you can revoke it independently.
- Set spending limits with the provider, not just in the app.
- Rotate keys after sharing a machine or recording a demo.
- Review shell-command consent prompts instead of approving automatically.
- Keep the desktop app and provider SDKs updated.
Questions
Is BYOK really free in Caide?+
Yes. Caide does not charge for BYOK and does not add a token markup. You pay your provider directly. The optional Caide Agent plan is the only paid surface.
Does Caide see my BYOK prompts?+
BYOK requests go directly from the desktop app to your provider. Caide's gateway is only used for Caide Agent, and Caide does not store Caide Agent prompts or generated code.
Can I switch providers mid-project?+
Yes. Caide lets you configure multiple providers and switch per thread or per turn, subject to each provider's model availability.
Try the workflow in Caide
BYOK is free forever; Caide Agent is optional.