Why Bring Your Own AI?
PortACourse has moved to a "Bring Your Own Key" (BYOK) model. This means instead of paying us a monthly subscription, you connect your own AI provider accounts directly to the platform.
Why the change?
In early 2026, major AI providers updated their terms of service to prioritize direct developer relationships for high-volume API usage. Specifically:
- Anthropic: Updated consumer terms to forbid third-party applications from using Pro/Max OAuth tokens for automated content generation.
- Google: Restricted Gemini CLI and third-party pedagogical tools from sharing a single centralized API quota.
- OpenAI: Has always maintained a strict separation between ChatGPT Plus subscriptions and Developer API billing.
By moving to a BYOK model, we ensure that your access to these powerful models is stable, compliant, and directly under your control.
What this means for you
PortACourse is now free to use. We no longer charge for subscriptions, and we never see your credit card information. You only pay your AI provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, or xAI) for the specific amount of AI processing you use.
Cost Estimate
For most users, this is significantly cheaper than a flat monthly subscription. Building a comprehensive 10-module course typically costs between $0.30 and $3.00 in provider fees, depending on the model you choose (e.g., Claude Haiku vs. Claude Opus).
How to get started
- Create a developer account with your preferred provider.
- Generate an API key.
- Paste the key into the Connections page in PortACourse.
- Start building!