# Hybrid Billing Option (Start with my Credits, Then Switch to API Key)

**URL:** <https://community.pickaxe.co/t/hybrid-billing-option-start-with-my-credits-then-switch-to-api-key/6239>\
**Category:** Feature Requests\
**Created:** [June 16, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/hybrid-billing-option-start-with-my-credits-then-switch-to-api-key/6239 "2025-06-16T22:33:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![johnny\_garcia](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/community.pickaxe.co/johnny_garcia/32/3600_2.png) [@johnny\_garcia](https://community.pickaxe.co/u/johnny_garcia)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 10:33pm UTC](https://community.pickaxe.co/t/hybrid-billing-option-start-with-my-credits-then-switch-to-api-key/6239/1 "2025-06-16T22:33:27Z")

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Hi Pickaxe team,

A member in the Skool group had a question that led me to wonder if this could be a useful/valuable feature: the ability to use my own API key/Pickaxe Credits to let users access a Pickaxe tool for free up to a certain number of uses (for example, 10), and then require them to either:

- start using their own API key
- or have it switch to one of my API keys

Right now the current set-up allows for either all on a key or all via credits. A hybrid option would make it easier to onboard clients or offer limited free trials without eating all the cost long-term.

Just an idea, curious if others would use this too.