> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ngrok.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Integrate ngrok.ai with your application in minutes.

The onboarding should have you covered, but this short quickstart guide is here just in case.

## Making your first request

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in to app.ngrok.ai">
    Open [app.ngrok.ai](https://app.ngrok.ai) and sign in with your ngrok account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Purchase credits">
    [Top-up at least \$5.00](https://app.ngrok.ai/credits). Every request you make requires [ngrok.ai credits](/ai-gateway/concepts/credits).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create your access key">
    Open [Access Keys](https://app.ngrok.ai/keys) and create a new key. Copy the key right away—it's shown only once—and store it somewhere safe. It looks like `ng-xxxxx-g1-xxxxx`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your first request">
    Point your OpenAI SDK at the gateway using your access key:

    ```js highlight={4,5} theme={null}
    import OpenAI from "openai";

    const openai = new OpenAI({
      baseURL: "https://gateway.ngrok.ai/v1",
      apiKey: "ng-xxxxx-g1-xxxxx"
    });

    const res = await openai.chat.completions.create({
      model: "gpt-4o",
      messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello, world!" }]
    });
    ```

    No need to sign up to OpenAI or bring your own keys for this request. ngrok.ai will handle the billing for you.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Already have credits and an access key?

<Prompt description="Give this to your AI coding agent to complete the SDK integration step automatically." actions={["copy", "cursor"]}>
  Complete the ngrok AI Gateway SDK integration (I've already signed up on app.ngrok.ai, purchased credits, and have an access key):

  1. Ask me for my access key (format: ng-xxxxx-g1-xxxxx). The gateway URL is always [https://gateway.ngrok.ai](https://gateway.ngrok.ai)
  2. Install the OpenAI SDK: `npm install openai` or `pip install openai`
  3. Write a script that routes OpenAI SDK requests through the gateway by setting baseURL to [https://gateway.ngrok.ai/v1](https://gateway.ngrok.ai/v1) and apiKey to my ng-xxxxx key
  4. Send a test request with model `gpt-4o` and message "State your exact model name and provider."
  5. Print and verify the response

  Ask me for my access key before writing any code.
</Prompt>

## Next steps

* [Access keys](/ai-gateway/concepts/access-keys): Understand how keys work and manage them
* [Credits](/ai-gateway/concepts/credits): How usage is billed
* [SDK Integration](/ai-gateway/sdks): Connect with OpenAI, Anthropic, and other SDKs
* [Bring Your Own Keys](/ai-gateway/concepts/bring-your-own-keys): Use your own provider API keys for more providers
* [Use a model you run yourself](/ai-gateway/guides/use-a-model-you-run-yourself): Connect Ollama, vLLM, LM Studio, or another private model.