Bring your own API keys to use custom models in Zo. Connect keys from OpenAI-compatible, Anthropic-compatible, or Groq endpoints.
Quick start
- Go to Settings > Advanced
- Under Custom Models, fill in the form with your provider details
- Click + to save
- Click Test to verify the connection
- Select your custom model from the model picker in chat
| Format | Description | Example providers |
|---|
| OpenAI | OpenAI-compatible APIs | OpenAI, OpenRouter, Together AI |
| Anthropic | Anthropic-compatible APIs | Anthropic |
| Groq | Groq API | Groq |
Zo uses streaming and tools, so make sure your provider and model have support for both.
Configuration
| Field | Description |
|---|
| Name | Display name shown in the model picker |
| Base URL | API endpoint (e.g., https://api.openai.com/v1) |
| API Key | Your provider API key |
| Format | API format: OpenAI, Anthropic, or Groq |
| Model ID | The model identifier (e.g., gpt-4o, claude-sonnet-4) |
Examples
OpenRouter
- Base URL:
https://openrouter.ai/api/v1
- Format: OpenAI
- Model ID:
mistralai/ministral-14b-2512 or any OpenRouter model
Anthropic
- Base URL:
https://api.anthropic.com
- Format: Anthropic
- Model ID:
claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
Groq
- Format: Groq
- Model ID:
moonshotai/kimi-k2-instruct-0905
Using custom models
After adding a custom model, it appears in the model picker in chat. Select it like any other model to use it for your conversations.
Custom models don’t fall back to Zo’s built-in models if they fail — ensure your API key is valid and has sufficient credits. 
