Getting your AI key for Utter

Utter doesn't come with AI built in. It sends what you say to an AI service, and that service needs a "key": a long, password-like code that belongs to you. Read this before you buy, so you know what's involved. Pick one to see its steps.

Get a free Google Gemini key

1
Open Google AI Studio
Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey in any web browser. Utter also has a button that opens it for you.
Open Google AI Studio
2
Sign in with Google
Use any Google account, the same kind you use for Gmail or YouTube.
3
Accept the terms
The first time, Google shows its terms. Read them and accept to carry on. If it offers a tour or a free trial, you can skip it.
4
Create a key
Click Create API key. If it asks you to pick a project, go with the one it suggests, or let it make a new one.
5
Copy it into Utter
Your key is a long code starting with AIza or AQ. Click the copy button next to it, then in Utter open Setup and press Paste my key. Utter checks it for you.

Keep the key to yourself, like a password: anyone with it can use your allowance. Lost it? The same page always lists your keys.

What "free" means

Limits. Google caps how many requests a free key can make each minute and each day. The daily count resets at midnight Pacific time. Google changes the exact numbers from time to time; AI Studio shows yours.
"Busy" at peak times. Free keys are served last when Google is under load, so a dictation can fail with a "busy" or "try again" message even if you have barely used it. Utter tells you when this happens and when to try again.
Your dictation may be used by Google. On the free plan, Google may use what you send to improve its products, and people at Google may review it. Don't dictate anything private on a free key. (In the EU, the UK and Switzerland, Google treats free use under its paid-plan privacy rules.)

Want to switch later? Your free key can become a paid one without changing anything in Utter: see the paid steps from step 5.

Get a paid Google Gemini key

1
Open Google AI Studio
Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey in any web browser. Utter also has a button that opens it for you.
Open Google AI Studio
2
Sign in with Google
Use any Google account, the same kind you use for Gmail or YouTube.
3
Accept the terms
The first time, Google shows its terms. Read them and accept to carry on. If it offers a tour or a free trial, you can skip it.
4
Create a key
Click Create API key. If it asks you to pick a project, go with the one it suggests, or let it make a new one.
5
Click Set up billing
On the same API keys page, find the project your key belongs to. In its Billing Tier column it says Free tier, with a Set up billing button next to it. Click it.
6
Connect a billing account
New to Google billing? Pick your country, confirm your contact details and add a card: that makes your billing account. Already have one (from Google Cloud, for example)? Pick it from the list, or choose Add new billing account.
7
Prepay or pay later
Depending on your account, Google either asks you to prepay at least $5, lets you choose between Prepay and Postpay, or sets you up to pay after you use it. Prepaid credit lasts 12 months, and Utter usually uses only cents a month. Once that's done, setup is complete.
8
Set a monthly spend cap (optional)
In AI Studio's menu open Spend, then Monthly spend cap → Edit spend cap, and pick something like $5. Google pauses the key once the month goes past it (it can run a little over while the cap catches up), so there's no surprise bill.
9
Check it switched
Within about 10 minutes, the Billing Tier column for your project shows a paid tier instead of Free tier. Your key stays the same, so nothing changes in Utter.
10
Copy it into Utter
Your key is a long code starting with AIza or AQ. Click the copy button next to it, then in Utter open Setup and press Paste my key. Utter checks it for you.

Keep the key to yourself, like a password: anyone with it can use your allowance. Lost it? The same page always lists your keys.

What paying gets you

Much higher limits and no "busy" queue at peak times.
Privacy: on the paid plan, Google does not use your dictation to improve its products.
You pay Google per use; Matane Studios never sees this money. Google's billing page in AI Studio shows what you've spent.

What it costs: with Utter's default model, a month of everyday dictation (around 15,000 words) comes to roughly a quarter. Heavy all-day use might reach a few dollars. Google sets these prices and can change them.

Already have a free key? Skip steps 1 to 4: open the API keys page and start at step 5.

Other AI services

ChatGPT (OpenAI). Utter can use an OpenAI API key instead. OpenAI keys are paid only: you add credit on OpenAI's platform first.
Your own server. If you run a compatible AI server (for example, an OpenAI-compatible endpoint on your own computer), Utter can use that. This is for technical users.

Still not sure?

Get the free key first and use Utter's 7-day free trial. If the free key's limits get in your way, turn on billing then, and buy Utter only once you know it works for you.

Back to Utter pricing

Getting your AI key for Utter

Get a free Google Gemini key

Open Google AI Studio

Sign in with Google

Accept the terms

Create a key

Copy it into Utter

What "free" means

Get a paid Google Gemini key

Open Google AI Studio

Sign in with Google

Accept the terms

Create a key

Click Set up billing

Connect a billing account

Prepay or pay later

Set a monthly spend cap (optional)

Check it switched

Copy it into Utter

What paying gets you

Other AI services

Still not sure?