Your own API key or the AI add-on: which fits your team?

If you want to use the AI features in Advanzo, there are two paths: the AI add-on at CHF 9 per user/month – or your own API key (bring your own key, BYOK for short). Both unlock the same features, from Autopilot to transcript analysis. The difference is not in capability but in billing, control and effort.

This article explains both options, shows which teams each one suits – and clears up a misunderstanding: there is no "better" option, only one that fits your situation better.

What is the difference between the AI add-on and your own API key?

The AI add-on is the all-inclusive route: you pay CHF 9 per user/month and Advanzo takes care of everything – models, access, upgrades. With your own API key you bring your key from the AI provider (Anthropic): you store it in Advanzo and settle AI usage directly with the provider, based on consumption.

Functionally, both paths are equivalent. Reply drafts, deal score, Business Intelligence profile, document drafts, transcript analysis and the whole of Autopilot are available either way. The safety rules are identical too: AI is opt-in, and automatic email sending stays locked by policy – no matter whose key does the work in the background.

How does the AI add-on work?

As simply as possible: you activate it per workspace with one click, and the AI features become available to the team. No provider account, no key management, no usage monitoring – the price is fixed: CHF 9 per user/month on top of your Advanzo plan. You will find all plan details on the pricing page.

Behind the scenes, Advanzo works with the latest AI models (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI). In "Automatic (recommended)" mode you benefit from model upgrades continuously without changing anything yourself: when a better model generation appears, your CRM works with it – the next morning, not after a migration project. That effortlessness is the actual product of the add-on.

How does your own API key (BYOK) work?

You create your own account with the AI provider (Anthropic), generate an API key there and store it in the settings of your Advanzo workspace. From then on, your team's AI requests run through your key, and the provider bills you for actual usage – consumption-based instead of a flat rate.

That means more responsibility on your side: you manage the key, keep an eye on usage limits, and in return hold the direct contractual relationship with the model provider. For teams that already work with an Anthropic account – for example because other internal tools run through it – this is often the more natural route: one invoice, one dashboard, full transparency over every request.

When is the AI add-on the right choice?

For most SME teams, the add-on is the right way to start. It pays off especially when:

• you do not want to run AI infrastructure: no provider account, no key, no usage invoice – switch on and work.
• you need predictable costs: CHF 9 per user/month is easy to budget; consumption-based billing naturally fluctuates.
• your team should start simply: one click per workspace and everyone works with the same features – without anyone having to sort out IT questions.
• you want to stay current automatically: model upgrades arrive by themselves in automatic mode.

In short: if you want to use AI as a tool without operating it, the add-on is the most relaxed way to do it.

When is your own API key the right choice?

BYOK shows its strengths in more specific situations:

• You already have an Anthropic account: if your organisation runs its own API access anyway, you bundle AI costs in one place.
• You want the direct contractual relationship: some companies prefer to shape the usage terms with the model provider themselves – for compliance reasons, for example.
• You want detailed usage visibility: the provider's dashboard shows exactly how much AI your team actually uses.
• Your usage profile is unusual: with very occasional use, consumption-based billing can be cheaper – with intensive use, also more expensive. Do the maths with real numbers instead of guessing.

BYOK is not a discount scheme but a control decision. If you do not mind the effort, you get maximum transparency.

What does it cost in comparison? A worked example

Take a team of five. With the AI add-on you pay 5 × CHF 9 = CHF 45 per month, CHF 540 per year – regardless of whether the team uses the AI intensively or only occasionally. That number sits in the budget before the first draft is generated, and it does not change when three times as many suggestions get reviewed during the end-of-quarter push.

With your own API key there is no fixed number: costs follow actual usage and fluctuate from month to month. Whether that ends up cheaper or more expensive depends entirely on your usage profile – the only serious way to answer it is with real invoices, not estimates. The practical approach: measure two or three months of real operation, then compare.

The honest summary: the add-on buys you predictability, BYOK buys you transparency. Both have value – what matters is which one counts for more in your organisation.

What about data protection and control?

The principles are the same in both variants. Your CRM data is hosted in Switzerland, Advanzo operates in line with the Swiss DPA (DSG) and GDPR, and AI is strictly opt-in: off by default, activated per workspace, deliberately and visibly.

The human-in-the-loop rules also apply regardless of the key: Autopilot proposes, you approve – and emails are never sent automatically; that capability is locked by policy. The confidence threshold additionally controls how many suggestions reach you. Choosing between add-on and BYOK changes nothing about the safety architecture – only who sends the AI invoice.

How do you decide in practice?

A simple decision guide for your team:

• No Anthropic account, no special situation? Take the AI add-on. It is active in a minute and costs a predictable CHF 9 per user/month.
• Existing provider account or compliance requirements? Take BYOK and store your own key.
• Unsure? Start with the add-on. After a few weeks you will see how intensively your team actually uses the AI – and you can adjust the variant later in your workspace settings without losing any features.

To understand what an AI copilot in sales can and cannot do in the first place, read our foundation article What is an AI sales copilot? – after that, the sourcing decision is usually quick.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Are the AI features identical in both variants?

Yes. Autopilot, reply drafts, deal score, Business Intelligence profile, document drafts and transcript analysis are equally available with the add-on and with your own API key. The difference lies in billing and key management.

Can I switch between the add-on and my own key later?

Yes. The variant is a workspace setting, not a one-way decision. Many teams start with the add-on and check later whether their own key pays off for them.

Which AI models does Advanzo use?

The latest AI models (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI). In "Automatic (recommended)" mode you receive model upgrades continuously without having to change anything yourself.

Is AI in Advanzo active by default?

No. AI is opt-in: switched off by default and activated per workspace with one click. Without deliberate activation, no AI processes your data.

What exactly does the AI add-on cost?

CHF 9 per user/month, on top of your Advanzo plan (Free, Plus at CHF 25 per user/month, or Pro Unlimited). With your own API key you instead pay for usage directly to the provider.

Does the AI send emails automatically?

No, in neither variant. Automatic email sending is locked by policy – every email is reviewed and sent manually by you.

Ready for AI in your CRM – your way? Start for free with Advanzo, activate the AI add-on with one click or store your own key – and let the AI propose while you decide.