Anthropic Account and Claude API Key
How to sign up for an Anthropic account and get a Claude API key for access to the Claude LLM (AI large language model).
A Claude API key is a special password that lets an application connect to Claude, Anthropic's AI large language model. You must open an Anthropic account to get an API key.
This article shows how to get a Claude API key after you get an Anthropic account. With an API key, you can install and use AI applications, such as ones developed for Claude Computer Use, a GUI agent that can operate a computer like a human user.
Other applications you may want
If you're getting started with Claude AI, now's a good time to add Warp Terminal and Zed Editor. Warp Terminal is an AI-assisted console for tools that give you unrestricted access to the OpenAI API and other LLMs. Zed Editor is the best AI-assisted editor for text and code. Both are free; you can get Warp Terminal here and Zed Editor here.
What does Claude cost?
Anthropic offers a free tier for evaluation. The free tier is only adequate for trying a few queries in the Claude chat interface or running a few API calls.
Realistically, you'll need to purchase $5 worth of credits (the Anthropic minimum) to learn enough about Claude to decide if you want to use it.
Steps to create an Anthropic account and obtain an API Key
You'll visit the Anthropic website to create an account and get an API key. You won't find a "sign up" link on the homepage. Instead you'll see "Build with Claude" with a "Learn More" call to action. Clicking "Learn More" will take you to the Build with Claude where you can click "Start Building" to create an account. Or skip the homepage and go directly to the Anthropic Console to sign up.
Like other new online services, Anthropic relies on "magic link" emails for authentication so you won't be asked to create a username and password.
1. Enter your email address
On the Anthropic Console page you can "Continue with Google" or "Continue with email" to create an account. I recommend using your email address to sign up (relying on third-party providers introduces a risk of account blockage). Anthropic immediately will send you a "magic link" email to confirm your account. Confusingly, submitting your email address displays a page that asks for a verification code but really, all you need to do is check your email and click a "magic link."
2. Click a link in email for onboarding
Check for an email message in your inbox and click the link "Sign in to Anthropic Console". That opens an onboarding page where you enter your full name and declare you are 18 years old, accepting terms and condtions. Click "Continue" to proceed. Anthropic already has your email address, so you don't need to enter it again.
On the next page, Anthropic will ask you for an organization name. You can use your own name or a company name. Click "Create Account" to proceed.
Notice that no password is needed. Anthropic relies on "magic link" emails for authentication.
3. "Good afternoon, Daniel"
The Anthropic Dashboard greets you after you create an account. Before you click "Get API keys", set up billing under "Settings."
4. "Billing" under "Settings"
Navigate to "Settings" and "Billing" in the console. You can't do much without setting up billing. You'll need to make an initial payment to purchase credits to get enough tokens to use the Claude API. Click "Complete Setup" to enter your payment details.
Anthropic targets business users, and wants everyone to comply with a usage policy, but you can sign up as a "small or medium business" using Claude for "internal" use if you are just trying it out. Note that Anthropic wants to know in what countries you intend to use Claude so they can comply with governmental regulations. To maintain compliance with their usage policy, Anthropic asks if you will provide legal, medical, or financial advice to consumers, and if you will use the API for services for users under age 18.
Click "Continue" and enter billing information. Enter your payment details to activate API access.
Your credit card may be declined if you are not logged in from the country associated with your credit card.
5. Purchase Credits
After you enter your payment details, you can purchase credits to get tokens for the Claude API. You can buy $5 worth of credits to get started (your "Initial credit purchase"). If you are trying out Claude for the first time, there's no need to set up auto-reloading of credits. You can always come back to the console to buy more credits as needed.
Click "Purchase Credits" to proceed. After a brief processing pause, the Dashboard credit balance will update to show your new credits.
6. Generate an API Key
From "Settings", click "API keys, or from the Dashboard main page, click "Get API keys".
You'll see a button for "Create Key". Choose a workspace ("default" is fine) and give the key any name you like ("first-claude-key" is good).
The key is shown once only! Copy and save the key securely. You can open the macOS Passwords app (macOS 15 Sequoia or newer) and create a new item "Anthropic Claude API Key" with any username and password (it won't be used) with the API key in the notes. With the API key securely saved in the Passwords app, you can find it again when you need to set up an application with the API key.
7. Manage API Keys
If someone else uses your API key, or you want to prevent an application from using Anthropic credits, you can delete the key (click the three dots in the last column of the list of API keys).
8. Use the API Key
Now that you have an Anthropic account and an API key, you can use the API key in an application to connect to Claude and get responses to your queries. Each application has a different way of entering the API key, so you'll need to refer to the application's documentation for how to enter the key.
What's next
You can build applications using the Anthropic API.
But first, try applications that use the Anthropic API.
Claude Computer Use is an API (application programming interface) that developers use to build GUI agents that can operate a computer like a human user. See an article, Claude Computer Use, for an introduction and applications.
My mac.install.guide is a trusted source of installation guides for professional developers. Take a look at the Mac Install Guide home page for tips and trends and see what to install next.