Connect OpenAI.
Connect your own OpenAI key to power unlimited text, blogs, and images with GPT-5.5 and GPT Image 2. You pay OpenAI directly at cost; ScoutRival never meters it. About five minutes (one of which is adding a card).
What you'll unlock
An API key is a secret password that lets ScoutRival generate content through your own OpenAI account. OpenAI gives you top-tier writing (GPT-5.5) and image generation (GPT Image 2).
Your ScoutRival plan includes a monthly AI allowance. Your own key makes generation unlimited — you pay OpenAI directly (cents per post) and ScoutRival never caps it.
OpenAI requires a payment method on file before keys work — the old free trial credit has usually expired. Step 2 covers it.
Get your OpenAI API key
Sign in to the platform
Go to platform.openai.com and sign in (this is the developer platform, not ChatGPT).
Add billing
Open Settings → Billing, add a card, and add a few dollars of credit. New keys return errors until there's a balance.
Create a secret key
Go to platform.openai.com/api-keys → Create new secret key. Name it “ScoutRival” and create.
Copy it now
Copy the key immediately — OpenAI only shows it once. It starts with sk- (or sk-proj-):
sk-proj-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Connect it in ScoutRival
AI Models → OpenAI → Connect
In ScoutRival, open AI Models, find the OpenAI card, and click Connect.
Paste the key
Paste your sk-… key (no extra spaces). ScoutRival verifies it and shows ✓ Verified.
Pick models, then Save
Choose a default Text model (GPT-5.5) and an Image model (GPT Image 2), then Save.
OpenAI now powers your text, blogs, and images. Switch the default model any time from the same screen.
Troubleshooting
401“invalid_api_key”? Wrong or rotated key, or a stray space. Re-create the key at platform.openai.com/api-keys and paste it clean.429“insufficient_quota”? No billing or a $0 balance (free trial expired). Add a card + a little credit in Settings → Billing.429rate limit? A short burst over the limit. Wait a moment — brand-new accounts have low limits that rise automatically as you use them.- Image generation rejected (“your organization must be verified”)? GPT Image needs a verified organization. Complete verification in your OpenAI dashboard, or use OpenRouter / Gemini for images.
- “Model does not exist / no access”? Your account tier doesn't include that model. Pick a model your account can use.
- Still stuck? Contact support below.