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 transcriptionCreate Account
Visit console.deepgram.com and sign up
Groq Whisper
Best for: Ultra-fast, free tierCreate Account
Visit console.groq.com and sign up with Google or GitHub
Groq has a generous free tier with no credit card required.
OpenAI Whisper
Best for: Official OpenAI, multi-languageCreate Account
Visit platform.openai.com and sign up
AssemblyAI
Best for: Enterprise, EU complianceCreate Account
Visit assemblyai.com and sign up
AI Enhancement Providers
Google Gemini
Best for: Free tier, excellent qualityGet API Key
Visit aistudio.google.com and sign in with Google
OpenAI (GPT-4o)
Best for: Premium quality enhancementCreate Account
Visit platform.openai.com (same as Whisper above)
One OpenAI API key works for both Whisper (transcription) and GPT-4o (enhancement).
Groq LLMs
Best for: Ultra-fast, free tierCreate Account
Visit console.groq.com (same as Groq Whisper above)
One Groq API key works for both Whisper (transcription) and LLMs (enhancement).
Local Providers (No Key Required)
WhisperKit (Transcription)
No API key needed. Runs entirely on your Mac.
Learn more about WhisperKit →
MLX (AI Enhancement)
Learn more about MLX →
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.