Bring Your Own Key
Stenox supports Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) — use your personal API keys with cloud providers. This gives you full control over your accounts and often access to free tiers.Transcription Providers
DeepGram
Best for: High accuracy, real-time transcription1
Create Account
Visit console.deepgram.com and sign up
2
Get Free Credits
New accounts receive $200 in free credits — no credit card required initially
3
Create API Key
Go to API Keys → Create Key → Copy the key
4
Add to Stenox
Settings → Providers tab → DeepGram → Paste key → Save
Groq Whisper
Best for: Ultra-fast, free tier1
Create Account
Visit console.groq.com and sign up with Google or GitHub
2
Generate API Key
Go to API Keys → Create API Key → Copy the key
3
Add to Stenox
Settings → Providers tab → Groq → Paste key → Save
Groq has a generous free tier with no credit card required.
OpenAI Whisper
Best for: Official OpenAI, multi-language1
Create Account
Visit platform.openai.com and sign up
2
Add Payment
Go to Settings → Billing → Add payment method
3
Create API Key
Go to API Keys → Create new secret key → Copy immediately
4
Add to Stenox
Settings → Providers tab → OpenAI → Paste key → Save
AssemblyAI
Best for: Enterprise, EU compliance1
Create Account
Visit assemblyai.com and sign up
2
Get API Key
Your API key is shown on the dashboard after sign-up
3
Add to Stenox
Settings → Providers tab → AssemblyAI → Paste key → Save
AI Enhancement Providers
Google Gemini
Best for: Free tier, excellent quality1
Get API Key
Visit aistudio.google.com and sign in with Google
2
Create Key
Click Get API Key → Create API key in new project → Copy
3
Add to Stenox
Settings → Providers tab → Gemini → Paste key → Save
OpenAI (GPT-4o)
Best for: Premium quality enhancement1
Create Account
Visit platform.openai.com (same as Whisper above)
2
Create API Key
Go to API Keys → Create new secret key → Copy
3
Add to Stenox
Settings → Providers tab → OpenAI → Paste key → Save
One OpenAI API key works for both Whisper (transcription) and GPT-4o (enhancement).
Groq LLMs
Best for: Ultra-fast, free tier1
Create Account
Visit console.groq.com (same as Groq Whisper above)
2
Create API Key
Go to API Keys → Create API Key → Copy
3
Add to Stenox
Settings → Providers tab → Groq → Paste key → Save
One Groq API key works for both Whisper (transcription) and LLMs (enhancement).
Local Providers (No Key Required)
WhisperKit (Transcription)
1
Open Settings
Settings → Models tab
2
Select WhisperKit
Set Transcription Provider to WhisperKit
3
Download Model
Choose a model (base.en recommended) and click Download
MLX (AI Enhancement)
1
Open Settings
Settings → Models tab
2
Select MLX
Set AI Enhancement Provider to MLX
3
Download Model
Choose a model (Qwen 3 1.5B recommended) and click Download
Free Tier Combinations
Maximize free usage with these provider combinations:| Setup | Transcription | Enhancement | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stenox Cloud | Stenox Cloud | Stenox Cloud | 5 credit) |
| 100% Free Cloud | Groq Whisper | Google Gemini | $0 |
| 100% Local | WhisperKit | MLX | $0 |
| Hybrid | Groq Whisper | MLX (local) | $0 |
| Quality Focus | DeepGram ($200 credit) | Google Gemini | $0 initially |
Groq Whisper and Google Gemini both offer free tiers with daily limits — no payment required.
Security Notes
Keychain Storage
All API keys are stored in macOS Keychain — the same secure storage used for passwords.
Direct Connection
Keys are sent directly to your provider. No intermediary servers.
View/Delete Keys
Manage keys anytime in Stenox Settings or macOS Keychain Access.
Provider Policies
Your provider’s privacy policies and enterprise agreements apply to all requests.