> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.smartpng.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get an API Key

> How a user gets an API key and credits through the SmartPNG website.

## Before you start

You do not need to buy credits before creating an API key.

Each account gets `500` free compression credits every month. If you need more than that, you can buy additional credit packs from the dashboard without rotating the key.

## Website flow

### Option 1: Start from the Developers page

1. Open `https://smartpng.com/developers`.
2. Click `Get Free API Key` if you want to start with the free monthly allowance.
3. If you already know you need paid volume, click `Get API Key & Credits`.
4. If you are not signed in, SmartPNG redirects you to `https://smartpng.com/sign-in?redirect=/dashboard/api-keys`.

### Option 2: Go directly to the dashboard

1. Sign in to your SmartPNG account.
2. Open `https://smartpng.com/dashboard/api-keys`.
3. Use the left sidebar if needed: `Dashboard` > `API Keys`.

## Create the key

1. Click `Create New API Key`.
2. Enter an optional name such as `Production`, `Staging`, or `WordPress Plugin`.
3. Click `Create API Key`.
4. Copy the generated key and store it in your application secrets manager or environment configuration.

The key list stays visible in the dashboard, but you should still copy the new key immediately after creation.

## Buy additional credits

If your account needs more than the monthly free allowance:

1. Open `https://smartpng.com/dashboard/billing`.
2. Click `Purchase Credits`.
3. Choose the number of `1,000`-credit packages.
4. Complete checkout.
5. Return to the billing page and verify the updated balance.

You can also start this flow from `https://smartpng.com/developers` by clicking `Get API Key & Credits`.

## Verify the balance

After sign-in, the website shows your credits in two places:

* `Dashboard > API Keys`: the page shows `Available Credits`
* `Dashboard > Billing`: the page shows `Paid balance`, `Free remaining`, `Free used this month`, and the next reset date

## Rotate or revoke a key

If a key is exposed or no longer needed:

1. Open `https://smartpng.com/dashboard/api-keys`.
2. Find the key in the table.
3. Click `Revoke`.

Revoked keys stop working immediately.