Getting your API keys

SubSlap can run transcription and translation on your own provider keys. You only need a key for the provider you actually pick in Settings → Models. Grab one, paste it in, done.

Where you paste it: Settings → Models → API tab → your provider → API Key → paste → Save.

Groq (transcription + translation) — recommended

Fast, cheap, and it covers both jobs. Best place to start.

Go to https://console.groq.com and sign up (Google/GitHub works).
Open API Keys (https://console.groq.com/keys).
Click Create API Key, name it “SubSlap”, and Create.
Copy the key (starts with gsk_). You only see it once.
In SubSlap: Models → API → Groq → API Key → paste → Save.

Groq has a free tier that’s plenty for trying it out.

OpenAI (transcription)

Whisper transcription on your OpenAI account.

Go to https://platform.openai.com and sign in.
Open API keys (https://platform.openai.com/api-keys).
Click Create new secret key, name it, and create.
Copy the key (starts with sk-).
In SubSlap: Models → API → OpenAI → API Key → paste → Save.

OpenAI is pay-as-you-go, so add a little billing credit first (Settings → Billing).

Deepgram (transcription)

Deepgram Nova-3, strong word-level timing.

Go to https://console.deepgram.com and sign up.
Open API Keys in the left menu.
Click Create a New API Key, give it a name, pick a scope, and create.
Copy the token.
In SubSlap: Models → API → Deepgram → API Key → paste → Save.

New accounts come with free credit.

ElevenLabs (transcription)

ElevenLabs Scribe, word-level timing.

Go to https://elevenlabs.io and sign in.
In the left sidebar go Home → Developers → API Keys.
Click Create Key, give it a name, and enable only Speech to Text — leave every other permission off.
Copy the key.
In SubSlap: Models → API → ElevenLabs → API Key → paste → Save.

Mistral (transcription + translation)

Voxtral transcription and mistral-medium translation.

Go to https://console.mistral.ai and sign up.
Open API Keys (https://console.mistral.ai/api-keys).
Click Create new key, name it, and create.
Copy the key.
In SubSlap: Models → API → Mistral → API Key → paste → Save.

A workspace with billing set up may be required for API access.

DeepL (translation)

High-quality subtitle translation.

Go to https://www.deepl.com/pro-api and sign up for the API plan (Free or Pro).
Open Account → API keys (https://www.deepl.com/your-account/keys).
Copy your Authentication Key. Free keys end with :fx.
In SubSlap: Models → API → DeepL → API Key → paste → Save.

The Free API plan covers 500,000 characters per month at no cost.

Claude (translation)

Claude Sonnet 5. The strongest on slang, names and numbers in our side-by-side test.

Go to https://console.anthropic.com and sign up.
Open Settings → API Keys (https://console.anthropic.com/settings/keys).
Click Create Key, name it “SubSlap”, and create.
Copy the key (starts with sk-ant-). You only see it once.
In SubSlap: Models → API → Claude → API Key → paste → Save.

Claude is pay-as-you-go, so add a little credit first (Settings → Billing).

Gemini (translation)

Gemini 3.8 Flash.

Go to https://aistudio.google.com and sign in with Google.
Click Get API key → Create API key.
Copy the key.
In SubSlap: Models → API → Gemini → API Key → paste → Save.

A free key allows about 20 requests a day on Gemini 3.8 Flash, roughly two videos into one language, and Google may use the text to improve its products. Turn on billing in AI Studio to lift the limit and keep your text out of it.

Keys not sticking?

Paste the whole key, no spaces before or after.
Make sure it’s the right provider tab (Groq keys start gsk_, OpenAI sk-, Claude sk-ant-).
If a key looks right but fails, it’s usually missing billing on that provider.

Still stuck? Email us at hey@ssslap.com.