Getting Started with AI Spend

Setting Up AI Spend

AI Spend lets you create isolated spend keys for each AI tool you use, with per-key budget controls. Here's how to get started.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Sign up or log in at lava.so. If you already have a Lava account, you can start using AI Spend right away.

Step 2: Fund Your Wallet

Add funds to your Lava wallet. This is the balance your spend keys will draw from. You can add any amount starting from $5.00.

Step 3: Create a Spend Key

1. Go to the AI Spend section of your dashboard
2. Click "Create Spend Key"
3. Give the key a name (e.g., "Cursor", "ChatGPT", "Claude")
4. Optionally set spending limits (daily, weekly, or monthly)
5. Optionally restrict which AI models the key can access
6. Click Create

Step 4: Configure Your AI Tool

Most AI tools allow you to set a custom API endpoint and key. Configure your tool with:

• API endpoint — Lava's proxy URL (shown in your dashboard)
• API key — The spend key you just created

For specific tool setup instructions, check the tool's documentation for "custom API key" or "custom provider" settings.

Step 5: Start Using

Use your AI tool as normal. All usage will be tracked against your spend key, and you can monitor spending in real time from your Lava dashboard.

Tips

• Create one key per tool for the best visibility into per-tool costs
• Start with generous limits and tighten them as you learn your usage patterns
• Enable autopay to avoid running out of credits at inconvenient times
• You can revoke or modify a key at any time without affecting your other keys