Configure your AI provider to power the AI Email Builder and AI text generation features in QuillCRM. Your API key is stored securely and used only for generating email templates and content.
Accessing AI Settings
Navigate to QuillCRM → Settings → AI to configure your AI provider.
Supported AI Providers
QuillCRM supports the following AI providers out of the box:
| Provider | Description | API Key Format |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and GPT-5 models | sk-... |
| Anthropic (Claude) | Claude Opus, Sonnet, and Haiku models | sk-ant-... |
| Google Gemini | Gemini 2.5 Flash, Pro, and other models | AIzaSy... |
| Custom / OpenAI-compatible | Any provider with an OpenAI-compatible API | Varies by provider |
Setting Up Your AI Provider
Step 1: Select a Provider
Choose your preferred AI provider from the dropdown menu. Each provider offers different models with varying capabilities and pricing.
Step 2: Enter Your API Key
Paste your API key from the selected provider. Your key is encrypted before being stored in the database for security.
Getting an OpenAI API Key
- Go to platform.openai.com/api-keys and sign in (or create an account).
- Click Create new secret key.
- Give it a name (e.g., “QuillCRM”) and click Create secret key.
- Copy the key immediately — it starts with
sk-and is only shown once. - Paste it into the API Key field in QuillCRM.
Note: OpenAI requires a payment method on file. New accounts receive free credits; after that, usage is billed based on the model and number of tokens used. See OpenAI Pricing for details.
Getting an Anthropic (Claude) API Key
- Go to console.anthropic.com and sign in (or create an account).
- Navigate to Settings → API Keys.
- Click Create Key.
- Name the key (e.g., “QuillCRM”) and click Create Key.
- Copy the key — it starts with
sk-ant-and is only shown once. - Paste it into the API Key field in QuillCRM.
Note: Anthropic offers a free tier with limited usage. For higher volumes, add a payment method in the Anthropic Console. See Anthropic API Pricing for details.
Getting a Google Gemini API Key
- Go to Google AI Studio and sign in with your Google account.
- Click Create API Key.
- Select a Google Cloud project (or create a new one).
- Copy the generated key — it starts with
AIzaSy. - Paste it into the API Key field in QuillCRM.
Note: Google Gemini offers a generous free tier. The free tier includes rate limits; for higher throughput, enable billing on your Google Cloud project. See Gemini API Pricing for details.
Step 3: Choose a Model
Once your API key is entered, QuillCRM automatically fetches available models from your provider. Select the model you want to use for generating content. Models are listed in descending order by capability.
Step 4: Test the Connection
Click the Test Connection button to verify your configuration is working correctly. A success message confirms that QuillCRM can communicate with your AI provider.
Using a Custom / OpenAI-Compatible Provider
If you want to use a self-hosted model or a third-party provider that implements the OpenAI API specification, select Custom / OpenAI-compatible as your provider.
You will need to provide a Base URL pointing to the provider’s API endpoint. Common examples include:
- OpenRouter:
https://openrouter.ai/api/v1 - Ollama (local):
http://localhost:11434/v1 - LM Studio (local):
http://localhost:1234/v1 - Groq:
https://api.groq.com/openai/v1 - Azure OpenAI: Your Azure endpoint URL
Note: For local providers like Ollama, the API key field is optional since they typically don’t require authentication.
Switching Between Providers
QuillCRM remembers your API key and model selection for each provider. When you switch between providers, your previous configuration is automatically restored. This makes it easy to test different providers without losing your settings.
Save Your Settings
After configuring your AI provider, click the Save button at the top of the Settings page to persist your changes. The AI Email Builder and AI text generation features will use these settings for all content generation.