I have just subscribed for the Pro level (previously have used Cursor Free for some time, mostly using Claude 3.5 Sonnet via my own Anthropic API key). After upgrading to Pro, I have noticed the following message in my Cursor settings’ Anthropic section: “With your Cursor Pro subscription, you do not need to use your own Anthropic key!”. I’m a bit confused: it is my understanding that, with Pro, I would first use my 500 monthly fast requests quota for premium models, which includes 3.5 Sonnet, and then, Cursor would automatically start using my Anthropic key for further usage. Apparently, it seems that this is not the case, because of this phrase: “You can put in your Anthropic key to use Claude at cost. When enabled, this key will be used for all models beginning with ‘claude-’”. Does this mean that the optimal approach is to “Turn off Anthropic Key” until I use the whole 500 fast requests quota and turn it on after that? Please clarify. Thanks!
I am just a fellow user, but yes I think you have the correct understanding.
The alert is just letting you know, as a courtesy, you already have a Pro subscription so you don’t need to use your own API key, unless you want to.
Also, remember, as a Pro user, you have an additional 10 long-context requests per day for several long-context models, you can see these details when logged in at cursor.com/settings.
Also, remember gpt-4o-mini is considered a non-premium model, so be sure to switch to that model when doing smaller tasks, in order to save some of your 500 fast-premium requests per month etc.
Hi @litecode, thank you so much for your prompt feedback, clarifications, and advice. I’m glad that my understanding is correct. I look forward to exploring Composer’s premium features, especially its multi-file editing experience and interpreter mode (it’s a pity that documentation does not cover the latter).
By the way, I have noticed that often or always (at least, in Free tier), when Cursor generates a large block of code, the ending point of the initial part and the starting point of the next one (appearing after clicking Continue button) do not match for a seamless stitching of relevant code blocks. Have you or anybody else noticed that?
That’s not good … So, then the solution to this issue (or, rather, a – hopefully, temporary – workaround) would be what I suggested above: to turn off your key(s) until all Pro credits are used, then turn the key(s) back on.
I could be missing something, but the logic seems clear to me:
If you have a Pro subscription, then Cursor will use that
If you add and enable your API Key, requests will be at your own cost
The messaging in the interface is pretty clear to me.
It even shows a highlighted message when you toggle your API Key on, essentially prompting you to confirm that you really want to use your own API Key.
I haven’t seen any communication that says:
“If you add your own API Key, we will only use that once you run out of your fast-premium Pro account requests”
The Cursor team have previously commented that it doesn’t bother them if you use your own API Key or not, but most users will probably find that it is cheaper to use Cursor’s requests, because they get bulk pricing.
I understand there is a workaround. But this is a bug. The app should be pulling from the pro credits ALWAYS when using a supported model and pro credits are left.
Its actually an urgent bug, because this bug is not only an inconvenience, but its related to $$. I pay $20 a month, and I just realized that I overpaid because the switch was on.
Also, the ‘courtesy’ message is NOT clear, because logic would imply that the PRO credits will be used first.
The text beneath the OpenAI API Key in Cursor Settings > Models is:
You can put in your OpenAI key to use Cursor at public API costs. Note: this can cost more than pro and won’t work for custom features.
The text beneath the Anthropic API Key in Cursor Settings > Models is:
You can put in your Anthropic key to use Claude at cost. When enabled, this key will be used for all models beginning with “claude-”.
I imagine they designed the system in this way so that:
Pro requests were used by default
If you wanted to use a new model, or had run out of Pro requests, or just wanted to see if the performance of using your own API Key was better, you could add and enable your own API key
(and toggle it on and off when you liked, each time being prompted to confirm you really wanted to use your own API key)
Again, I could be missing something, but the messaging seems clear, to me.
Probably a dumb / obvious question but is litecode a bot? Its responses are utterly unhelpful and not really the point of the discussion here, which is that our own API keys should only be used for usage beyond what Cursor Pro already offers. Surely someone who’s not a bot can see that.
Why hasn’t anyone from the Cursor team addressed this question? There’s always confusion around this topic whenever it comes up, but the question is quite simple:
• Should “Pro 500 Usage” apply?
• Or, should it rely solely on a “personal API key” if you enter it irrespective if Pro
I’ve even emailed Cursor’s support in the past, but haven’t received any response. It’s unclear why they aren’t providing clarification on this issue.
You get 500 requests if you subscribe to the PRO plan, this does not require your API key. If you want to use your personal API key, you do not need to purchase a subscription—you can use it for free, except for any costs associated with your API key usage.
Your 2nd sentence is incorrect: one does need to purchase a subscription, if they want to use their personal API key and Cursor’s premium features (e.g., Composer).
At risk of necro-posting, (but this thread seems highly relevant!), is there a detailed chart somewhere that lists what is included with Pro vs one’s own API keys?
I’d been messing around learning how things work in Cursor and then got prompted for Pro at the same time a bunch of features stopped working.
But I looked at my account settings and saw virtually no utilization:
…so just shrugged and figured I didn’t understand the system yet (true!) and plugged in my OpenAI API key, except that didn’t seem to make any difference at all, so now I have no clue what I should or should not be seeing/using…?!?
It’s still not clear if there is any value in having both a Pro subscription as well as using an API key. Assuming someone wants the Pro features, is an API key used above and beyond the 500 fast requests you get from your Pro account?
If I have both a Pro subscription as well as a API key, will my 500 fast requests get used at all or will everything go through the API key?
Assuming there’s a benefit to having both a Pro account and using a API key, I have no issues using both. As someone who already has an anthropic paid account, I just need clarification on whether or not there is any features/value in having both or if the Pro account makes using a API key completely redundant and a waste of money.
Edit:
After a little more research, I’ve come to to discover that my Anthropic/Claude Pro account is a separate thing from their API access and I would need to pay for API access separate from my Anthropic Pro subscription. Because of this, I’ll just get a Cursor Pro subscription an go from there. I’ll decide whether I continue with my Anthropic account separate and apart from my Cursor pro account because the two are not related.
Correct, cursor embeddings for @codebase are also ignored when you are using your own API key. As I found out later, it’s also well worth it to pay up for additional fast responses too after onboarding to PRO.
So, then the solution to this issue (or, rather, a – hopefully, temporary – workaround) would be what I suggested above: to turn off your key(s) until all Pro credits are used, then turn the key(s) back on.
