# Chat in the browser

> Use every model in a browser chat on the same account and balance as the API. Sign-in, models, editing and exporting chats, where chats are stored and how replies are billed.

Source: https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/chat

You do not need to write code to try the models. [Chat](https://oneaiapikey.com/chat) is a browser chat app on the same account as the API: sign in once and every model is available, billed to the same balance at the same per-token rates.

## Start a conversation

1. Open [Chat](https://oneaiapikey.com/chat). Signed out, you can already type your first message; when you send it, you are taken to [sign in](https://oneaiapikey.com/console/sign-in?next=%2Fchat) and brought back to Chat with your message still in the box. If you do not have an account yet, [sign up](https://oneaiapikey.com/console/sign-up). New accounts start at $0; models become available once the account has paid $3 or more.
2. Pick a model in the model picker at the top. It shows each model’s input and output rate.
3. Type your message and press **Enter** to send (**Shift+Enter** for a new line). The reply streams in as it is written.

You can also open Chat with a model already chosen by adding `?model=<id>` to the URL, for example from a [model page](https://oneaiapikey.com/models).

## While you chat

- **Stop** (or **Esc**) ends a reply at once. The partial reply stays, marked as stopped.
- **Regenerate** asks the model again for the last reply.
- **Edit** on one of your messages changes it and sends it again; the replies after it are replaced.
- **Copy** copies a message as text.
- **Conversation settings** set a system prompt (pick a preset or write your own) and the temperature for this chat. They are saved with the chat.
- You can switch the model in the middle of a chat; each reply records which model wrote it.

## Your chats

- **Chats are stored in this browser only**, not on our servers. They do not sync between browsers or devices, and clearing your browser data deletes them.
- The chat list lets you search (**Ctrl+K**, or **Cmd+K** on a Mac), rename and delete chats.
- **Export chat** downloads the open chat as Markdown (`.md`) or JSON (`.json`). Export chats you want to keep before you clear your browser.

## How chat is billed

Chat requests run through the same gateway and the same rates as API requests. There is no separate chat subscription.

- **Paid models** cost the published per-token rate from the [models table](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/models#current-models), charged to your balance. Each reply shows what it cost.
- **Free models**, when any are listed, cost $0 and work at a $0 balance once the account has paid $3 or more.
- **Usage is logged.** Chat requests appear on the [usage page](https://oneaiapikey.com/console/usage) next to your API requests, under a key name that starts with `playground-`. You do not need to create an API key to chat.
- When your balance is empty, paid models are refused with a link to add credit.

> **Stopping early still costs the tokens already generated:** When you stop a reply, the gateway closes the connection to the model at once. You pay for the prompt and for the tokens generated up to that point, never for the rest.

## Chat, playground or API

|   | Chat | Console playground | API |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Where | [/chat](https://oneaiapikey.com/chat) | [Console → Playground](https://oneaiapikey.com/console/playground) | Your code or tools |
| Needs an API key | No, you sign in | No, you sign in | Yes |
| Best for | Everyday conversations | Testing a prompt, model or parameter before you write code | Apps, agents and coding tools |
| Billing | Same balance and rates | Same balance and rates | Same balance and rates |

## When you are ready to build

- [Quickstart](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/quickstart): create a key and send the same request from curl, Python or Node.
- [Coding tools](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/guides): use the models inside Claude Code, Cursor, Cline and others.
- [Chat apps you host yourself](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/apps/open-webui): connect Open WebUI, LibreChat and others with an API key.