--- title: "Use the Bearly API" description: "Call GPT, Claude, Grok, GLM, DeepSeek, and Bearly models from your own code with the official OpenAI or Anthropic SDK and a Bearly API key. Every request uses zero-data-retention providers." canonical: "https://bearly.ai/docs/api-access/" markdown: "https://bearly.ai/docs/api-access.md" --- # Use the Bearly API HTML: [https://bearly.ai/docs/api-access/](https://bearly.ai/docs/api-access/) > Call GPT, Claude, Grok, GLM, DeepSeek, and Bearly models from your own code with the official OpenAI or Anthropic SDK and a Bearly API key. Every request uses zero-data-retention providers. The Bearly API lets your own code call the models in Bearly with the official OpenAI or Anthropic SDK. Change the SDK's base URL and API key; your requests, responses, and streaming stay in the format the SDK already uses. Usage is billed to your Bearly account under your plan and credits, the same way chat is. If your code stops reading a streamed response early, the model still finishes it and the full response is billed. Every request goes only to providers that have agreed to zero data retention: the provider does not keep your prompt or the model's response after processing them. See [zero-data-retention models](https://bearly.ai/docs/zero-data-retention.md) for what that label means. > **Caution — Models can change at any time** > We try to offer a broad set of models and keep them available, but we may add, replace, restrict, or remove any model at any time, sometimes without notice. A removed model returns a `model_not_found` error. Check the [model list](#models) from your code, handle that error, and keep a tested alternative for work that must not stop. ## Create an API key 1. Open your account menu and select **Developers**. **API Keys** opens. If **Developers** or **API Keys** isn't there, your organization's policy has turned off API access; ask your team administrator. 2. Select **Create API Key**, or **New Key** if you already have one. Enter a note that tells you where the key is used, such as "Production app", then select **Create**. 3. Select **Copy** on the new key and store it in a secret manager or server environment variable. The examples on this page read it from `BEARLY_API_KEY`. The key acts as your Bearly account until you delete it. Keep it out of browser code, public repositories, and email. If a key may have leaked, delete it under **API Keys** and create a new one. ## Connect an SDK | SDK | Base URL | Key | | --- | --- | --- | | OpenAI (Chat Completions and Responses) | `https://api.bearly.ai/v1` | Your Bearly API key as the API key | | Anthropic (Messages) | `https://api.bearly.ai` | Your Bearly API key as the API key | You don't need an OpenAI, Anthropic, or other provider key. ### OpenAI SDK Use the OpenAI SDK for every model that supports Chat Completions or Responses. **Python** ```python import os from openai import OpenAI client = OpenAI( base_url="https://api.bearly.ai/v1", api_key=os.environ["BEARLY_API_KEY"], ) response = client.responses.create( model="gpt-6.1-sol", input="In one sentence, what is an API key?", ) print(response.output_text) ``` **TypeScript** ```ts import OpenAI from "openai"; const client = new OpenAI({ baseURL: "https://api.bearly.ai/v1", apiKey: process.env.BEARLY_API_KEY, }); const response = await client.responses.create({ model: "gpt-6.1-sol", input: "In one sentence, what is an API key?", }); console.log(response.output_text); ``` **curl** ```bash curl https://api.bearly.ai/v1/chat/completions \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $BEARLY_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "model": "bearly-fast", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}] }' ``` The same client also works with `chat.completions.create` for any model that lists Chat Completions in the [model table](#models). ### Anthropic SDK Use the Anthropic SDK for Claude models. **Python** ```python import os from anthropic import Anthropic client = Anthropic( base_url="https://api.bearly.ai", api_key=os.environ["BEARLY_API_KEY"], ) message = client.messages.create( model="claude-haiku-5-5", max_tokens=1024, messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "In one sentence, what is an API key?"}], ) print(next(block.text for block in message.content if block.type == "text")) ``` **TypeScript** ```ts import Anthropic from "@anthropic-ai/sdk"; const client = new Anthropic({ baseURL: "https://api.bearly.ai", apiKey: process.env.BEARLY_API_KEY, }); const message = await client.messages.create({ model: "claude-haiku-5-5", max_tokens: 1024, messages: [{ role: "user", content: "In one sentence, what is an API key?" }], }); console.log(message.content.find((block) => block.type === "text")?.text); ``` **curl** ```bash curl https://api.bearly.ai/v1/messages \ -H "x-api-key: $BEARLY_API_KEY" \ -H "anthropic-version: 2023-06-01" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "model": "claude-haiku-5-5", "max_tokens": 1024, "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}] }' ``` Other tools built on these SDKs usually have a base URL setting; point it at the same address and use your Bearly API key. Streaming, tool calling, and structured output work the way each SDK documents them, with two model limits: - **GPT models, `bearly-pro`, and `bearly-ultra`:** for function calling, use the Responses API. On Chat Completions these models accept tools only with `reasoning_effort: "none"`, which `bearly-pro`, `bearly-ultra`, and `gpt-6-luna` support and `gpt-6.1-sol` and `gpt-6-astra` don't. - **Claude Opus 5.5 and Sonnet 5.5:** set `tool_choice` to `auto`. Forcing a tool (`any` or a named tool) returns an error. ## Models Use the model name exactly as shown. Each model works only with the APIs listed for it; Claude models, for example, use the Messages API. | Model | Chat Completions | Responses | Messages | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `bearly-fast` | Yes | | | | `bearly-pro` | Yes | Yes | | | `bearly-ultra` | Yes | Yes | | | `gpt-6.1-sol` | Yes | Yes | | | `gpt-6-luna` | Yes | Yes | | | `gpt-6-astra` | Yes | Yes | | | `claude-opus-5-5` | | | Yes | | `claude-sonnet-5-5` | | | Yes | | `claude-haiku-5-5` | | | Yes | | `grok-4.7` | Yes | Yes | | | `glm-5.3` | Yes | | | | `glm-5.3-flash` | Yes | | | | `deepseek-v4-pro` | Yes | | | | `deepseek-v4-flash` | Yes | | | | `minimax-m3` | Yes | | | This table was last checked on October 7, 2026. For the current list, call `GET https://api.bearly.ai/v1/models` or `client.models.list()` in either SDK. The OpenAI-format list shows which APIs each model supports; the Anthropic SDK's list shows only Messages models. **Bearly models.** `bearly-fast`, `bearly-pro`, and `bearly-ultra` are the same models as **Bearly Fast**, **Bearly Pro**, and **Bearly Ultra** in the app. We keep these names working and may change the model behind them as better ones arrive, so they're the safest choice when you'd rather not track model releases. They always support Chat Completions. `bearly-ultra` always uses credits. Your plan and any team policy apply. A model your plan or team doesn't allow returns an error; Bearly never switches your request to a different model. ## Turn API access on or off for your organization API access is on for every member unless a policy turns it off. Team administrators control it with **Developer API access** in the policy's **Developer** section. A policy set to **Disabled by default** keeps it off until you switch it on. Members whose policy turns it off don't see **API Keys** in the app, and their API requests return a `403` error. See [Set organization policies](https://bearly.ai/docs/teams/policies.md). ## What isn't supported - **Stored responses.** Requests to the Responses API are always sent with storage off, so `previous_response_id`, background mode, and retrieving or deleting a past response aren't available. Send the conversation history with each request, the way you would with Chat Completions. - **Provider-hosted tools.** Built-in web search, file search, code execution, image generation, and MCP servers hosted by a provider aren't available, and a request that includes one returns a `400` error. Function calling (tools you define and run yourself) works. - **Priority processing and deferred requests.** Leave `service_tier` unset or set it to `auto`. Grok's `deferred` option isn't available. - **Other APIs.** Images, embeddings, audio, and fine-tuning aren't available through the Bearly API. ## Errors | Status | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | | `400` | The request uses something the Bearly API doesn't support, such as a provider-hosted tool or priority processing. | Remove the option named in the error. | | `401` | The key is missing, invalid, or deleted. | Check the key, or create a new one under **API Keys**. | | `403` | Your team's policy turns off API access, or doesn't allow this model. | Ask your team administrator, or pick an allowed model. | | `402` | The model needs a different plan, or your credits or allowance can't cover the request. | Add credits, change plans, or pick another model. | | `429` | Your account already has 10 API requests running. | Wait for one to finish; the OpenAI and Anthropic SDKs retry automatically. | | `404` `model_not_found` | The model name is wrong, the model doesn't support that API, or it's no longer offered. | Check the [model list](#models) and the API you called. | Other errors come from the model provider in its usual format and are passed through unchanged. ## Related - [Use zero-data-retention models](https://bearly.ai/docs/zero-data-retention.md) - [Privacy and security in Bearly](https://bearly.ai/docs/privacy-security.md) ## Continue through the documentation - [Documentation index](https://bearly.ai/docs.md): Browse every Bearly guide. - [Previous: Delete your Bearly account](https://bearly.ai/docs/account/delete-account.md) - [Next: Privacy and security in Bearly](https://bearly.ai/docs/privacy-security.md) - [Related: Use zero-data-retention models](https://bearly.ai/docs/zero-data-retention.md) - [Related: Set organization policies](https://bearly.ai/docs/teams/policies.md)