# Zed setup: add an OpenAI-compatible provider for the Agent Panel

> Add our gateway to Zed via language_models.openai_compatible in settings.json, enter your key, pick Claude, GPT, Grok or DeepSeek in the Agent Panel and fix errors.

Source: https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/guides/zed

Base URL: `https://api.oneaiapikey.com/v1`

Zed is a fast, native code editor with a built-in Agent Panel. Besides its own hosted models, Zed lets you register any OpenAI-compatible service as a language model provider. Add our gateway once and you can drive Zed’s agent with Claude, GPT, Grok or DeepSeek using one key and one prepaid balance.

## What you need

- A recent version of Zed (OpenAI-compatible providers are configured through `language_models.openai_compatible`).
- A funded account; top-ups start at $3: [create an account](https://oneaiapikey.com/console/sign-up).
- An API key from the [API keys page](https://oneaiapikey.com/console/keys) (it begins with `sk-`).

## Step 1: open settings.json

Open the command palette and run **zed: open settings file**. (Plain **zed: open settings** opens the graphical Settings Editor instead, which is handy for most options but not for this block.) The file lives at `~/.config/zed/settings.json` on macOS and Linux and at `%APPDATA%\Zed\settings.json` on Windows.

## Step 2: add the provider

Merge the `language_models` block below into your settings. If you already have a `language_models` key, add the `openai_compatible` entry inside it rather than creating a second one.

settings.json:

```jsonc
{
  "language_models": {
    "openai_compatible": {
      "Relaykit": {
        "api_url": "https://api.oneaiapikey.com/v1",
        "available_models": [
          {
            "name": "claude-sonnet-5",
            "display_name": "Claude Sonnet 5",
            // conservative context budget; raise it if you know the model's limit
            "max_tokens": 200000,
            "max_output_tokens": 32000,
            "capabilities": {
              "tools": true,
              "images": true,
              "parallel_tool_calls": false,
              "prompt_cache_key": false,
              "chat_completions": true
            }
          },
          {
            "name": "deepseek-v4-flash",
            "display_name": "DeepSeek V4 Flash",
            "max_tokens": 128000,
            "max_output_tokens": 16000,
            "capabilities": {
              "tools": true,
              "images": false,
              "parallel_tool_calls": false,
              "prompt_cache_key": false,
              "chat_completions": true
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  }
}
```

What the fields mean:

- The key inside `openai_compatible` (here `Relaykit`) is the provider name shown in Zed.
- `api_url` **includes `/v1`**.
- Each entry in `available_models` needs a `name` that matches a catalogue id exactly. `display_name` is just the label in the picker.
- `max_tokens` is the context budget Zed plans around and `max_output_tokens` caps a single reply. The numbers above are conservative placeholders, so adjust them if you know a model’s real limits.
- `capabilities.tools` must be `true` for agentic use, because the Agent Panel works through tool calls. Set `images` to `true` only for models that accept images.
- `chat_completions: true` keeps Zed on the widely supported Chat Completions endpoint.

Settings files in Zed accept comments, so the `//` line in the example is fine.

## Step 3: enter your API key

Open the Agent Panel, go to its settings view, find your provider under the LLM providers list, and paste your `sk-` key. Zed stores it in your system keychain rather than in `settings.json`.

Alternatively, set an environment variable before launching Zed. Zed derives the variable name from the provider name in uppercase, which for this config is `RELAYKIT_API_KEY`. The provider’s settings view shows the exact name it expects.

macOS / Linux:

```bash
export RELAYKIT_API_KEY="sk-your-key-here"
```

## Recommended models

Add any of these to `available_models`. Rates are USD per 1M tokens:

| Model id | Good for | Input | Output |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `claude-sonnet-5` | Daily coding, Code review, Writing | $2.20 | $11 |
| `claude-opus-5-5` | Agentic coding, Large refactors, Complex reasoning | $4.40 | $22 |
| `gpt-6.1-sol` | Codex CLI, Tool calling, Long context | $2.20 | $11 |
| `grok-4.6` | Fast answers, Research, Chat | $2.20 | $6.60 |
| `deepseek-v4-flash` | Budget coding, Sub-agents, Batch jobs | $0.24 | $0.96 |

`claude-sonnet-5` is a strong default for the agent; `deepseek-v4-flash` is a low-cost option for quick questions and inline assists. See every model on the [models page](https://oneaiapikey.com/models).

## Step 4: verify it works

Open the Agent Panel, click the model selector, and choose one of the models listed under your provider name. Ask a simple question about the open project. A normal reply means the provider works, and you’ll see the request in your console’s usage log a few seconds later.

To check the key independently of Zed:

curl:

```bash
curl -sS https://api.oneaiapikey.com/v1/models -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-key-here"
```

## Troubleshooting

**The provider or models don’t show up.** Zed couldn’t parse your settings, or the block is nested in the wrong place. Zed highlights JSON errors in the settings file; fix them and the provider appears without a restart.

**401 Unauthorized.** No key, or a wrong one, is stored for this provider. Re-enter it in the Agent Panel settings. If you rely on the environment variable, make sure Zed was launched from a shell where it’s set.

**404 Not Found.** `api_url` must be exactly `https://api.oneaiapikey.com/v1`: no trailing slash, no endpoint path.

**“Model not found” or “no available channel”.** A `name` in `available_models` doesn’t match a catalogue id. Ids are lowercase with exact dots and dashes.

**The agent answers but never edits files.** Tool calling is off for that model. Set `capabilities.tools` to `true`.

**Long replies stop or time out.** Zed streams responses, which keeps long generations alive. If you call the API from your own code, use `"stream": true` for long outputs: proxies cut idle non-streaming requests at about 100 seconds.

## Next steps

Pair Zed with a terminal agent like [Claude Code](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/guides/claude-code) or [OpenCode](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/guides/opencode), or browse every [tool guide](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/guides). Current rates for all models are on the [pricing page](https://oneaiapikey.com/pricing).

## Other OpenAI format tools

- [Codex CLI CLI](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/guides/codex-cli)
- [Cursor IDE](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/guides/cursor)
- [Cline Extension](https://oneaiapikey.com/docs/guides/cline)