Skip to main content

Getting Your Anthropic Claude API Key

This guide will walk you through obtaining an API key for Anthropic's Claude models to integrate with EZ Testing.

Prerequisites​

  • Valid email address
  • Phone number for account verification
  • Payment method (required for API access)
  • Web browser

Step-by-Step Instructions​

1. Create an Anthropic Account​

  1. Visit Anthropic Console
  2. Click "Sign Up"
  3. Enter your email address and create a password
  4. Click "Create Account"

[Image placeholder: Anthropic signup page]

2. Verify Your Email​

  1. Check your email for a verification message from Anthropic
  2. Click the verification link
  3. Complete the email verification process

3. Phone Verification​

  1. After email verification, you'll be prompted for phone verification
  2. Enter your phone number
  3. Enter the verification code sent via SMS
  4. Complete the phone verification process

[Image placeholder: Phone verification screen]

4. Set Up Billing​

warning

Anthropic requires billing setup before you can access the API, even for initial testing.

  1. Navigate to "Billing" in the console sidebar
  2. Click "Add Payment Method"
  3. Enter your credit card information
  4. Set up your spending limits and budget alerts
  5. Complete the billing setup

[Image placeholder: Anthropic billing setup page]

5. Generate Your API Key​

  1. In the Anthropic Console, go to "API Keys" in the sidebar
  2. Click "Create Key"
  3. Give your key a descriptive name (e.g., "EZ Testing Integration")
  4. Select the appropriate permissions (usually "Full Access" for testing)
  5. Click "Create Key"
  6. Important: Copy the API key immediately - it won't be shown again

[Image placeholder: API key creation dialog]

6. Configure Key Permissions (Optional)​

For production use, consider setting specific permissions:

  • Models: Choose which Claude models the key can access
  • Rate Limits: Set usage limits for the key
  • Domains: Restrict usage to specific domains (if applicable)

Configuration in EZ Testing​

To set up Claude in EZ Testing:

  1. Open EZ Testing configuration
  2. Navigate to LLM Settings or API Configuration
  3. Select Anthropic Claude as your provider
  4. Paste your API key
  5. Choose your preferred Claude model:
    • claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 (newest, most capable)
    • claude-3-opus-20240229 (most intelligent)
    • claude-3-sonnet-20240229 (balanced performance)
    • claude-3-haiku-20240307 (fastest, most cost-effective)

Available Models​

Anthropic offers several Claude models:

ModelDescriptionBest For
Claude 3.5 SonnetLatest and most balancedGeneral-purpose, coding, analysis
Claude 3 OpusMost capable modelComplex reasoning, creative tasks
Claude 3 SonnetBalanced performanceMost workflows, good speed/quality
Claude 3 HaikuFastest and cheapestSimple tasks, high-volume processing

Usage Limits and Pricing​

Rate Limits​

  • Varies by subscription tier
  • Measured in tokens per minute (TPM) and requests per minute (RPM)
  • Higher tiers get increased limits

Pricing Structure​

  • Pay-per-token usage model
  • Input tokens (prompt) and output tokens (response) priced separately
  • Different models have different per-token costs

Check the Anthropic Pricing page for current rates.

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

"Invalid API key" error

  • Ensure you copied the complete API key
  • Verify the key hasn't been revoked or expired
  • Check that billing is properly configured

"Insufficient credits" error

  • Add funds to your Anthropic account
  • Check your billing settings and payment method
  • Review your spending limits

"Rate limit exceeded" error

  • Check your current usage in the Anthropic Console
  • Consider upgrading your tier for higher limits
  • Implement request throttling in your application

"Model not found" error

  • Verify you're using the correct model name
  • Check if the model is available in your region
  • Ensure your API key has access to the specified model

Account Issues​

Account verification problems

  • Ensure your phone number can receive SMS
  • Check spam folder for verification emails
  • Contact Anthropic support if verification fails

Billing setup issues

  • Verify your payment method is valid
  • Check if your bank is blocking the transaction
  • Ensure your billing address matches your payment method

Security Best Practices​

danger

Protect your API key like a password. Never expose it in client-side code or public repositories.

Key Management

  • Store keys in environment variables
  • Use secure key management systems
  • Rotate keys regularly
  • Monitor usage for unexpected activity

Access Control

  • Use the minimum required permissions
  • Create separate keys for different environments
  • Regularly audit key usage
  • Revoke unused or compromised keys

Testing Your Setup​

After configuration:

  1. Send a simple test prompt through EZ Testing
  2. Verify Claude responds correctly
  3. Check the response format and quality
  4. Monitor usage in the Anthropic Console

Example test prompt:

Hello Claude! Please respond with a brief confirmation that the API connection is working.

Next Steps​

Additional Resources​