Getting Started with OpenAI API for TestSolver

The "Bring Your Own Key" tier requires you to generate your own OpenAI API Key in order to make use of TestSolver. The main benefit of this tier is the ability to customize and control your API usage, ensuring that you only pay for what you need. The total cost you will incur in this tier in most cases will not exceed 6$ per month which is significantly cheaper than the other plans.

Step 1: Create an OpenAI Account

If you don't already have an OpenAI account, you'll need to create one first. This is separate from a ChatGPT Plus subscription, as API usage is billed differently.

  1. Go to the OpenAI platform website: platform.openai.com/signup
  2. You can sign up using your Google, Microsoft, or Apple account, or by providing an email address and creating a password.
  3. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the registration. You may need to verify your email address and phone number for security purposes.
  4. Once registered, log in to your OpenAI account.
  5. After logging in, you will be required to set up an organization. There is no specific restriction here and you can use whatever name or description you want.
  6. After setting up your organization, one of the next questions will be around generating an API key. Press on the "Generate API Key" button.
  7. Copy and store this key in a secure place, such as a password manager or a secure note-taking app since it might not be shown again.

Step 2: Top Up Your Account with Credits (Prepaid Billing)

OpenAI API usage operates on a prepaid billing system. You need to add credits to your account before you can use the API.

  1. From the OpenAI platform dashboard, navigate to Billing in the sidebar.
  2. Click on Add payment details (if you haven't already). Provide your credit card information.
  3. Once your payment method is added, click on the Add to balance or Buy credits button.
  4. Choose the amount of credits you wish to purchase (the minimum is usually $5).
  5. Confirm your purchase. Your credits should appear in your balance shortly.
  6. Optional: Set up Auto-recharge: To ensure uninterrupted service, you can set up auto-recharge. This feature automatically adds a specified amount of credits to your account when your balance falls below a certain threshold. You can also set a monthly recharge limit.

Step 3: Add Your OpenAI API Key to TestSolver

After generating your API key, you need to add it to TestSolver to start using the OpenAI API.

  1. Open the TestSolver application and navigate to the gear icon which indicates the settings.
  2. Look for an option labeled API Key.
  3. Paste your copied API key into the designated field and then press validate.
  4. Save your changes. TestSolver should now be configured to use your OpenAI API key.

Understanding Costs: GPT-4o mini Pricing

Our software uses OpenAI's GPT-4o mini model, which is one of the most cost-efficient models for a balance of performance and price. OpenAI bills based on the number of "tokens" processed, which are small pieces of text (words or sub-words).

Current Pricing for GPT-4o mini (as of May 2025):

  • Input Tokens: $0.15 per 1 million tokens
  • Output Tokens: $0.60 per 1 million tokens

(Please note that pricing can change; always refer to the officialOpenAI API Pricing pagefor the most up-to-date information.)

Estimated Cost Per Question for TestSolver:

Based on our typical usage, one Question you send through TestSolver consumes approximately:

  • Input Tokens: ~2,000 tokens
  • Output Tokens: ~500 tokens

Let's calculate the approximate cost for a single Question:

  • Input Cost: (2,000 tokens / 1,000,000 tokens) * $0.15 = $0.0003
  • Output Cost: (500 tokens / 1,000,000 tokens) * $0.60 = $0.0003
  • Total Estimated Cost per Question: $0.0003 + $0.0003 = $0.0006

This means for every 100 queries, you might expect to spend around $0.06 (6 cents). For 1,000 queries, it would be approximately $0.60 (60 cents).

Important Security Note

Your OpenAI API key is like a password. Do not share it publicly (e.g., on GitHub, social media, or in client-side code). If your API key is compromised, others could use it to make requests on your behalf, leading to unexpected charges on your account. If you suspect your key has been compromised, immediately revoke it from your OpenAI API Keys page and generate a new one.