#Cloud keys (BYOK)

##Adding a key in Waymark

1. Get a key from the company you chose, using the steps further down this page.
2. In Waymark, open Settings › Translation & Voice and tap the task: Text & Conversation Translation, Image Translation or Voice.
3. Choose the Provider, paste the key into “Paste your API key here”, and tap Save.
4. Tap Test Connection to check that it works.
5. Image Translation and Voice start with “Use the same key as Text Translation” turned on, so one key can cover everything. Turn it off to use a different company for that task.

##Works without a key

Everything in Waymark works on device. A key is optional: it makes translations more natural, reads hard images better, and hears more accurately in noisy places.

##What is an API key?

It's a long code an AI company gives you when you sign up. Like a prepaid card: you pay only for what you use, directly to that company. No money goes through Waymark.

The key stays on this device only, never goes to iCloud, and can be removed anytime in Settings.

##Which should I choose?

###Use OpenAI directly

Sign up for OpenAI and add one key under text translation. Images and voice will use the same key automatically.

###Going to mainland China

OpenAI usually doesn't work in China without a VPN. Use DeepSeek for text, Qwen for images, and leave voice on device.

###Cheapest

Use DeepSeek for text only; images and voice stay on device.

##What each company can do

Anything the chosen company can't do, Waymark does on device. Right now OpenAI and OpenRouter handle voice.

Some large models, like Claude Opus, reply more slowly. If a sentence takes over 5 seconds, Waymark translates on device instead. If that happens often, pick a faster model.

##What is a model?

Each company has several models, like car models: small ones are fast and cheap; big ones are smarter but pricier and slower.

A small model is enough for short travel phrases. The one marked "Recommended" is already selected; you don't need to change it.

##Cost

You pay for what you use. Short text costs very little; images and audio cost more than text. The model list shows a level: "Very cheap / Cheap / Medium / Pricier".

Actual prices can change; see each company's pricing page. Also set a spending limit on the company's website so you never pay more than you intend.

Price levels in the app are rough comparisons between models, not actual prices. Waymark does not guarantee that prices or model lists are accurate; please check the official website every time before use.

##Getting a key, step by step

###OpenRouter

https://openrouter.ai

1. Open the website above and sign up or log in
2. Add credit on the Credits page
3. Go to Keys and tap Create Key
4. Copy the key starting with sk-or- into Waymark

###OpenAI

https://platform.openai.com

1. Open the website above and sign up or log in
2. Add funds on the Billing page (minimum set by the company)
3. Go to API keys and tap Create new secret key
4. Copy the key starting with sk- into Waymark (it's shown only once)

###DeepSeek

https://platform.deepseek.com

1. Open the website above and sign up or log in
2. Add funds on the Top up page
3. Go to API keys and create a new key
4. Copy it and paste it into Waymark

###Gemini (Google)

https://aistudio.google.com

1. Open the website above and sign in with Google
2. Tap Get API key and create a new key
3. Copy it and paste it into Waymark
4. Beyond the free quota, add a card on the Google Cloud Billing page

###Claude (Anthropic)

https://platform.claude.com

1. Open the website above and sign up or log in
2. Add credit on the Billing page
3. Go to API Keys and tap Create Key
4. Copy the key starting with sk-ant- into Waymark

###Qwen (Alibaba Cloud)

https://www.alibabacloud.com

1. Sign up for Alibaba Cloud and find Model Studio
2. Activate the service and create an API key
3. Copy it and paste it into Waymark
4. Mainland China account: open "Advanced" and set the Base URL to https://dashscope.aliyuncs.com/compatible-mode/v1

##How far can you trust AI translation?

Both on-device and cloud AI translation can be wrong, miss things, or add things, especially local dish names, medicine names, numbers, and prices.

Where a mistake could be dangerous, such as food allergies, illness, medicine, law, or official documents, show a Survival Card (pre-translated, checked phrases) and always confirm with staff or a professional. Waymark helps you communicate; it does not guarantee accuracy.

##Where does your data go?

When you add a key for a task, that task's text, images, or audio go straight from your device to the company you chose, under that company's policies. Nothing goes through Waymark's servers.

If you enter a relay or proxy Base URL, its owner can see everything sent through it. Only use one you run yourself or trust.