API Key Policy Generator
Generate plain-English API key usage rules, billing terms, refund language, and acceptable use policy sections.
API Key Policy Generator
Create a practical API usage policy, acceptable use policy, billing terms, and refund starter.
Frequently asked questions
Practical answers for applying this calculator to a production API billing or usage plan.
Is the generated API key policy legal advice?
No. It is a plain-English operational draft for product planning. A qualified lawyer should review the final policy for your jurisdiction, business model, data practices, and customer contracts.
Should customers be allowed to share API keys?
Most products should prohibit sharing keys outside the customer account or authorized workspace. Team access is safer when each person or service receives a separate, revocable credential.
What should an API abuse policy include?
Define prohibited activity, monitoring practices, warning and suspension rules, emergency termination rights, billing treatment, appeal channels, and how customers can report a compromised key.
How long should API usage data be retained?
Keep detailed logs only as long as needed for billing, security, disputes, and legal obligations. Document the retention period and distinguish operational metadata from sensitive request content.
What billing terms should an API key policy include?
An API key policy should explain which account owns charges, what activity is billable, how quotas and rate limits are enforced, what happens after included usage is consumed, and how refunds or disputes are handled. It should also state that customers are responsible for protecting keys and revoking exposed credentials. A simple formula belongs in the policy or linked pricing docs: charge = billable usage x published rate, minus included allowance and credits. Keep legal wording aligned with the product dashboard so customers see the same usage, limits, and billing rules in every place.
Related API billing guides
Read the concepts behind the calculator and adapt the examples to your own API pricing model.
API Refund Policy Template and Decision Guide
Create an API refund policy for prepaid credits, subscriptions, metering errors, outages, leaked keys, and billing disputes.
Read guideWhat Is API Key Billing?
A practical guide to API key billing models, usage tracking, pricing units, invoices, limits, and developer-friendly policies.
Read guide