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Accounts & sign-in ​

Pencel is a local-first desktop app — your workspace, database, and artifacts live on your machine. But using an AI model requires an account. This page explains sign-in, the Terms of Service, and how subscriptions, your own API keys, and beta credits fit together.

Sign-in is required before any model use ​

You must be signed in before Pencel will call any model — including when you bring your own API key. On first launch you accept the Terms of Service (a one-time clickwrap) and sign in with Google or email. After that, sign-in persists across launches; you will not be re-prompted unless you sign out.

Why sign-in for BYOK too?

Sign-in ties usage to an account for entitlement checks, credit metering, and abuse protection. Your own API key still routes directly to the provider — signing in does not send your key or prompts to Pencel — but the app confirms you have a valid account before making the call.

If sign-in or the account service is unreachable, Pencel degrades gracefully: local features (browsing your workspace, editing artifacts, reviewing past runs) keep working, but starting a new model call is blocked until you can reach the network again.

Three ways to power your models ​

Once signed in, you need model access. There are three options, and they can coexist:

OptionWhat it isWhere it routes
Managed subscriptionPencel's Auto and Private modes on a paid plan. Auto picks a cost-optimized model for the task; Private is zero-retention. Comes with a monthly credit allocation.Through Pencel's managed proxy
Bring your own key (BYOK)Your own Anthropic, Google, or OpenAI API key, added under Settings → Credentials.Directly to the provider — no credits consumed
Beta creditsRedeem an invite code for free promo credits during the beta.Through Pencel's managed proxy

When you have more than one, Pencel spends subscription credits first, then top-ups, then promo (beta) credits last. A model you select with your own key always uses that key and never burns credits.

See Beta Tester Setup for redeeming an invite code, and Installation for where to get a provider API key.

Choosing a model ​

The chat and workflow model picker groups options into:

  • Modes (subscription): Pencel Auto (cost-optimized, Pencel picks the model) and Pencel Private (nothing retained by the provider).
  • Models (BYOK or managed): Claude Sonnet 4.6, Opus 4.6, Haiku 4.5 · Gemini 2.5 Flash, 2.5 Pro · GPT-4o, GPT-4o mini.

Managing your account ​

Everything account-related lives under Settings:

  • Account — sign in / out, view your plan.
  • Credentials — add or remove BYOK API keys, redeem an invite code.
  • Cost & Usage — remaining credits and per-run spend.

What's next ​